Faith or Fear

I say I want to have faith

I want to believe and trust in God

But on the other hand

I have fear. Many of them.

Fear that spells out what will happen if things doesn't work out as I wanted it to be

Fear that says you never know

Fear that points out to what others may be facing in similar situations

Fear that very well reflects the facts that is just like a slap in the face

Fear that is very real

Fear that are always crouching at the back of the mind, waiting to be triggered and make its presence known

All of us has our journey of faith and fear

At the end of the day, I can't say I have faith.. but have fear also at the back of my mind

Faith and fear cannot coexist

Where faith is belief

Fear is disbelief

The opposite of faith is fear

They are just like fire and water

The presence of one will extinguish the other

When we want our faith to soar and take off

Fear will always be dragging us down

So if we want to have faith, a heart that trust God completely, we can't have that hook of fear always holding us back

We read that Jesus rebuke His disciples many times over this;

Matt 8:26 You of little faith, Why are you so afraid

Matt 16:8 O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have bought no bread

When they are afraid of perishing in the windstorm, After He rebuked the wind and the waves, He asked His disciples “Where is your faith?” Luke 8:24-25

When Peter walked on water and suddenly began to sink. “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?” Matt 14:31

It is like for His disciples whom He walked with, lived with, who are among the closest to Him, this is one of those really important lessons that He wanted them to learn.

On the other hand, we also read that with people of faith, Jesus complimented them and we find that miracles happened because of their faith; like the woman with the issue of blood and the centurion of great faith and the Gentile woman (Matt 15:21).

One of the most beautiful things I've learnt, whatever little we might have, when we give it to Him, it always becomes more.

He sees and values the little faith I am able to muster amidst the difficult situation. And then He multiplies it.

When I thought, I had that last drop of faith left to stand on

Or when the situation is so draining that I don't feel I have any more love to give, or to pour on Him anymore..

When I choose to sit at His feet and worship Him above all else, I found that..

What little I have,

It starts with that trickle of water coming out from my heart.

As I worship Him, the trickle of water joins a stream nearby, the stream flows into a river

The river meanders into the sea

And the sea disappeared into the vast ocean.

I am refreshed, I am renewed, I am restored.

The little that I have was met with His unlimited supply.

My limited faith and love is engulfed by His vast ocean of the person of Jesus Himself.

My faith is not based on positive thinking or some prep talk

My faith is ignited by time spent with the Living God

My faith is based on the written Word of His promises

My faith is sparked off by experiences with Him

Where He gave me His promises and remind me of what He has done at the Cross

So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..

Jesus’ love is definitely a perfect love.

And I want to be so filled and saturated in His love for me.

One day, He showed me… that as we let go of our fears

It is like we gave him that key to release all of Heaven’s power and authority over that matter.

He is the Lord of Hosts. When there is the letting go of fear, the Lord of Hosts rejoices and commands the release of His heavenly armies to work on the matter. How am I in awe!

It reminds me of what Naomi says to Ruth

“Sit still , my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” Ruth 3:18

I know Jesus is for me. And He will cause all things to work out for good.

Fear may arise again tomorrow.

But today, I choose to have faith and let go of my fear.