… for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
Am I walking by faith or walking in fear?
A very real question to ask as we live in a world that is becoming ever more frightening each day. How much do we allow what is happening in our world to dictate how we live?
Recently I needed to make a decision to travel overseas; one that would not be made lightly as I do not like flying. It was an important journey God was calling me to make. As I planned for the trip, all kinds of things popped up to make me think this was not the right decision. Numerous incidents with planes caused me to doubt whether flying was safe. Hearing news of a young woman being trapped by her ride-share driver made me nervous as I would have to use the same car service on my trip. Acts of terror and violence in the very state I was traveling to brought me apprehension.
Would I allow these things to convince me to turn away from what God was telling me to do?
Would I walk in fear considering everything I saw and heard happening in the world?
Or would I push forward in faith believing that the Lord would be with me and safely guide me on this journey He had specifically for me?
Faith vs. Fear
Life will always have moments where we will decide to either walk in faith or walk in fear. Years ago, I came across this acronym for FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. I realized I had been allowing false perceptions to influence my choices. I was missing out on so much because I was allowing FEAR to be in control. This was not the full life God intended for me.
But is it possible to experience fear and at the same time have faith in God? I believe so. I think of the woman with the issue of bleeding for 12 years (See Mark 5:25-34). She knew that her presence among others in her unclean state would not be acceptable by the crowd. This was confirmed by the fear she felt when Jesus outed her for touching him; a fear that probably traveled with her to see Jesus as she chose to defy social norms in hope of being healed. But it is important to note that her fear was not in control and did not have enough sway to influence her faith in Jesus to heal her.
The problem occurs when we allow FEAR to dominate. The account of Peter walking on the water exemplifies this.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Matthew 14:29-31 (NLT)
In an instant, Peter’s fear took control as he focused on the wind and the waves instead of the One who controls them. I think one can look at the dire circumstances around them and experience a level of fear that is quickly subdued when one takes into consideration the Master who is above all things. The result is an indescribable peace that takes over as one chooses to let their faith in God override their fear.
The evidence of faith
As I prepared to make this voyage in the midst of all the reasons screaming at me not to go, I had to fight to keep my focus on God and my perspective on everything else in relation to who God is. Every time I heard a news report on yet another plane incident, I wavered between fear and faith. Faith won out when I recalled God’s promises to me about this trip and remembered that He was in control.
Often I would chuckle to myself as I felt like God was intentionally keeping me informed about a variety of incidents. It was as if I was being tested on whether I would walk by faith or be moved by fear as every day there seemed to be another matter that was related to my travel plans. I could hear the Holy Spirit saying to me, “Will you have faith that the Lord has you on this trip or will you allow fear to stop you from going on this mission?
Faith is beyond what we say and believe. As James 2:17 (NIV) states, “… faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” What does your life tell you about your level of faith? Is your faith just words or is it evident in the way you are living? Are you actively living out your faith or actively living out your fear?
I went on that trip and it was great! None of those things that I imagined based on my fear took place. However, as heavy turbulence physically rocked my plane on my way back home, I found myself yet again having to ask, “will I walk in faith or fear”. This time I was being confronted with the real thing and not just imagining it! I started laughing in disbelief as I felt as if God was saying that my testing was not over yet! Would I have faith that He would carry me through to the end of this mission? Or would I become overwhelmed by the turbulent conditions that were assailing my plane at that moment?
In that moment, I chose to remember that God was my pilot who had faithfully guided me thus far in my travels and would continue to do so even though the circumstances seem to indicate otherwise. I decided not to focus on the winds and the rocking plane but to consider the One who is in control of all things.
That is what determines whether we will walk by faith or walk in fear.
Considerations 