Fear is the enemy of life. I have been thinking a lot about fear, reading what the Bible has to say about it, and observing it in people’s lives, and that is my conclusion.
I’m not talking about not wanting to go skydiving, but the kind of fear that keeps you from making the right decisions because you don’t know the outcome. The kind that keeps you home at night because you don’t know what might happen outside of your home. The kind that keeps you from having a tough conversation that may save a relationship. The kind that keeps you so busy trying not to die that you never actually live.
God says in Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you may live.”
What is God setting before you today? Are you staying in a job that sucks the life out of you because you are afraid to pursue the dream that burns in your heart? Are you not making the phone call to that person that you miss so much, because you are afraid they may hurt you again? Are you missing out on an adventure of a lifetime because you are afraid you might get hurt? The reality is that you might get hurt (physically, mentally, emotionally), but that is what shapes you. Life isn’t found in what’s “safe,” it’s found in the things that make us stretch and grow. God calls us to choose life, and His reason is simple: so that we might live.
There is a song that I have had on repeat the last several days that I think is perfect for this subject. (The lyrics and youtube version are listed below!) The chorus says this:
I wanna see you what you’re made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try… there’s nothing you should be afraid of
I’d take your place if I could
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
It’s probably not going to feel safe. It’s probably going to take a fight. Don’t let fear steal your life. Sometimes it’s not safe…but it’s probably gonna be good.
If you have a minute, listen to this awesome song from Matt Wertz!
It ain’t about why or about what you’re gonna do about it
Nothing’s gonna change on its own
Cuz something ain’t right
Maybe that’s life just trying to tell you something
But it won’t take too long
You would see it’s not long
I wanna see what you’re made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there’s nothing you should be afraid of
I’d take your place if I could
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
I think about this
What if all your plans just feel right into place
Would you be better then?
Was it the brokenness that built you
The emptiness that filled you
Or the times you couldn’t get away
Let that trouble have its way
I wanna see what you’re made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there’s nothing you should be afraid of
I’d take your place if I could
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
It’s gotta get worse before it gets good
I know it ain’t easy nor need it should
Don’t hide away of what you have to do
Come into the city, buildings are falling
Listen to the crowd, angels calling out to you
To bring you through, to bring you through
To bring you through
I wanna see what you’re made of
Get up and fight you know you should
Try there’s nothing you should be afraid of
I’d take your place if I could
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
I wanna see what you’re made of
Get up and fight you know you should, oh should
Try there’s nothing you should be afraid of
I’d take your place if I could
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
This ain’t safe but it’s gonna be good
(I wanna see what you’re made of)
(I wanna see what you’re made of)