Is It Fear or God?

 

Have you ever wondered if a decision you made was prompted by fear or God himself?

A heavy question but a real one. Many of us make decisions based on fear for our children, or fear of not having enough. We may even live in fear that we may lose someone, or become fearful that we might offend someone. Or what about, the fear of knowing something we don’t want to know?

As God brought us through different trials, we recall asking ourselves: did we just come through that because fear was our motivating factor? Or, did we really rely on God to see us through.

After pondering on that one too many times, we decided to seek counsel. Our mentors were always up in our business, and we didn’t care because we wanted true discipleship, to create change in our lives. In the tough places of our faith or any subject, for that matter, we had no problem being transparent. So that we could receive the real help we needed.

With all the infamous wisdom that they gave us, this is one of the most impactful conversations we had. They simply told us: “Following the perfect will of God is rarely easy, but always right.”

Selah. (Pause and calmly think about that.) There is an element of fear that is good for us. The Bible calls that having the “fear of God.”

And it would be just like our God to reward us for fearing Him!

“The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
~Proverbs 22:4 (AMPC)

Having the reverential fear of the Lord is a good thing. When God calls you to something new, there will be that element of fear, not wanting to disappoint Him. On the contrary, when we step out of God’s will, we should be afraid. Because it opens the door for the enemy to get in.

A good rule of thumb is to check your motivation for what you’re doing. If you’re responding out of fear for not getting what you want, that might be a sign to wait before making a decision. Seek God for His leading. And if the motive is pure, God will confirm it in you through His Word.

For instance; if someone you know has a need, and you have a little discretionary money after paying all your bills; do you follow the prompting to be a blessing? Or do you hold on to it out of fear of not having enough? Then ask yourself, does that decision line up with God’s Word?

A few years ago, Timberley began to have some health challenges, and although we were standing in faith for compete healing we were also seeking God for wisdom as to who do we reach out to for help. What type of doctor, natural remedies, etc. Timberley decided to mention it to a few sisters in Christ to stand with her agreement for wisdom and clarity, not wanting to move ahead of God, or without Him.

In that petition of prayer one of the ladies she had asked to stand with us, happened to refer us to a very good doctor who not only got to the root of the problem, but she was able to identify the problem within a few days compared to the eight plus months of doctor visits and tests Timberley previously experienced.

That was not weak faith that was faith in action. Not too mention God confirmed in that appointment that although what seemingly looked bad, God had protected her life the entire time, and it was only His leading that we came across such a competent doctor.

Timberley remembers sitting in the doctor’s office with tears coming down her face thinking, “I am truly a friend of God, who cares so much for me!”

When we started to live in light of God’s priorities, (God, Spouse, Family, Ministry, Work), it helped us keep everything else in perspective. And it was that perspective that helped us weed out alternative motives based on fear, greed, or anything else that would prevent us from walking in God’s perfect will for our life.

So the next time you are faced with making a decision, check your motives and ask yourself am I making this decision out of fear or God’s leading?

~André and Timberley Gray