Why You Need Fearless Faith?
How can you have Fearless Faith when your knees are shaking with terror? Even the smallest things can cause your heart to palpitate because it seems so huge at that moment!
We have been reading and looking at twenty passages listed on this Free Printable as we have been doing the Weariness to Strength Grace Study. There is only one more day in this study!
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalm 91:5-6
How is it that Psalm 91 talks about dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty when there are times in your life when it seems like nothing but bad things are happening?
There are two stories that tell of terrorizing situations where it would seem that fearless faith would have been totally impossible.
James Chalmers was a Scottish-born Presbyterian missionary who sailed for the South Pacific in 1866 under the London Missionary Society. He served for 35 years in that area and during that time lost two wives. Although he faced such sorrow, it only caused him to be more dedicated in his work for Christ. In the spring of 1901, he went on an exploratory mission with Oliver Tomkins along the Coast of the Fly River region of New Guinea. When they did not return, a search party was sent out after them only to find that they had been clubbed to death, chopped into pieces, cooked and eaten before the search party even arrived. (reworded from John Piper, Desiring God)
Terrorizing Circumstances!
These two men faced terrorizing circumstances. How would it have been possible for them to have fearless faith in a God who allowed this to happen?
On January 8th, 1956, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Flemming, and Roger Youderian were speared to death on a sandbar called “Palm Beach” in the Curaray River of Ecuador. They were trying to reach the Huaorani Indians with the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time ever. (Elizabeth Elliot told the story in her book, Shadow of the Almighty.)
“There is infinite, unending security in the almightiness of God — no matter what happens in this life.” John Piper|Desiring God
How is it possible that God allowed these seven men (both stories) to be brutally murdered if God was sheltering them in the shadow of the Almighty? What kind of God allows this to happen?
It was no accident that Elizabeth titled her book, Shadow of the Almighty.
When the whole world saw it as a tragedy, Elizabeth firmly believed that her husband and the other men who were killed were safely hidden in God’s loving care.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
Fearful Terror
We never know what lies ahead and I am grateful for that fact!
I waste enough time and energy when I worry about the future. If I knew ahead of time what was going to happen to me, I would not be emotionally or in any other way prepared for what lies ahead.
I think if we knew for a fact that we would be speared or clubbed to death like the 7 men we just read about, we would definitely have fearful terror!
The thing is, God gives us strength for that moment and not for the moments in our future. He will give us fearless faith at the exact time we need it and not a second earlier!
I think that James Chalmers, Oliver Tomlin, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Flemming, and Roger Youderian were given fearless faith at the precise moment that their perpetrators attacked them!
Fearless Faith in Our Place
I always thought that the Psalms were written to me, the reader, but I learned today that Psalms is all about Jesus!! It is because of that that we can learn HOW to live with Christ abiding in us.
So, you desperately NEED fearless faith in order to face your life with its troubles and trials.
You might have issues with a rebellious three-year-old or young adult. It might put fear in your heart thinking about what kind of adult this child will become.
Or maybe your health has serious issues and it has left you fearful and full of terror over your future.
Because Jesus wasn’t afraid as He faced horrible persecution and cruel death on the cross is why we can face tomorrow. That is, as long as you are living in Christ.
Jesus already lived the life of fearless faith in His divine perfection.
That is why you can live this life of perfection in Christ Jesus when you embrace what He has done for you.
It is then that you can allow Him to transform your life into His glorious image.
He is your shield and refuge that makes it possible to live your life in fearlessness and faith.
Even if You are Executed You Can Die with Fearless Faith
America is declining spiritually and morally at an unprecedented rate. Both liberals and conservatives can attest that this is #Truth.
You might feel ‘safe’ at this moment but neither of us knows if we will be executed or killed like those missionaries for our faith in Christ.
That is why I want to leave you with the comfort to know that God will never leave you and will always be there to give you strength and fearless faith till the end. No matter what you are facing in life!
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19
How did this encourage you today? Do you feel comfort in knowing that God will give you fearless faith for whatever you are going through today?
