Fear and Challenge

I was encouraged this weekend as I found time to read more of Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus. I'm on the last chapter, but here's what I found Friday:

Erwin talked of how his son began having nightmares that elves were jumping on his bed. He and Kim (his wife) racked their brains to find out what had caused them and tried to reason with him that these elves didn't exist. Then it occurred to them. There had been an earthquake that shook their house and their son had reinterpreted the earthquake. A short time later they went to Northridge to help those who had suffered the most from the earthquake. With their 4-year-old son, they provided food, prayer, and comfort. The nightmares stopped.

"In a very real sense we took him into the mouth of the dragon so that he could overcome his fears.

I am convinced that when we face our fears, we look straight into the eyes of opportunity, and the courage we often need to engage our greatest challenge can be found only in the midst of engaging that challenge. There is a point as we seize our divine moments that a battle begins. It is in this point of impact where we experience conflict, opposition, and resistance. But it is also at this point of impact where we have the greatest opportunity. It is on the battlefield that we reflect what's on God's heart, and we stand in that place where God longs to make Himself known.

When re run from His purpose, we run from His presence. He will send you back to face your fears. There are times when we are called to go forward, and the worst thing we can do is to retreat from the challenge before us to the safety behind us.

It is a privilege to be called to go first even when it means you are the first to suffer and the only one at risk. It means you must bear the weight of responsibility and accept the consequences that will come with the privilege."

So, what is God calling you to do that scares you? He is with you and He will not leave you. Go for it! Blessings this week.