Afraid of Being Fearless

Isaiah 54

Jennifer and I were once asked to talk about being fearless.   Her comment was something along the lines of “they should pick someone else to ask.”  I think that rings true for most of us.  We don’t feel fearless.  In fact, as soon as you bring it up, all I can think about is the things that I am afraid of!  On closer reflection, however, it is not true.

Let’s start with geography.  Living in America is pretty safe.  I am not afraid of invasion or enemy attack.  But, does that make me fearless?

What about money?  The median worldwide income is around $2,900 per year.  The median wage in America is about $34,000.  If you live with me in BloNo, it’s higher than that.  I am not afraid that I won’t be able to buy food or gas tomorrow.  But, does that make me fearless?

How about knowledge?  Our educational system and availability of resources provide more educational opportunities than ever before.  I’ve been to college and have a post-graduate degree.  I am not afraid of being uneducated.  But, does that make me fearless?

Did you know that the freedoms and privileges I’ve just described are the fulfillment of prophecy?  Isaiah 54 talks specifically about God’s provisions of peace, riches, and knowledge for his servants. We are living proof of his promise!  But, guess what?  That does not make us fearless.    Fearless comes only when we embrace the promise and the privilege.  What does that look like?   It looks like “living life with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives.” John Piper – Don’t Waste Your LIfe