Faith vs Fear: A Spiritual Journey

In our journey as Christians, we often face a crucial decision: do we want to be strong in our faith or play it safe? How do we choose Faith vs Fear?

This question reveals a deep battle for our souls. Being strong in faith means choosing courage over comfort, faith over fear, and strength over safety.

It’s about doing radical things in the world, as God asks of us.

The Sin of Unbelief

¹² See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴ We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Hebrews 3:12-14

This Bible passage warns us against having a heart of unbelief that turns away from God.

The sin mentioned here isn’t the typical “big sins”. It’s a far worse sin. It is the sin of choosing safety over faith, of refusing to trust God fully.

This kind of unbelief is what the book of Hebrews talks about, taking us back 3500 years to the time of the Exodus.

Lessons from the Exodus

God had miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He led them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

However, when they saw the challenges of conquering this land, their faith wavered.

They saw the inhabitants as giants and themselves as grasshoppers. This fear led them to contemplate returning to the familiar life of slavery, rejecting God’s promise.

Their fear and unbelief were a form of contempt towards God. They knew God could lead them to victory, but they chose their safety over His promises.

This story teaches us that fear can make us irrational, leading us to believe lies and reject God’s way.

The Call to Radical Faith

Today, we are also called to do radical things for God. It’s often in situations that demand the greatest faith that we find our spiritual strength.

But this path is not safe; it’s filled with risks and challenges that can leave us trembling. Yet, these are the moments that truly define our faith.

Overcoming Unbelief

The big sin that hardens our hearts and keeps us from God’s rest is unbelief.

Therefore, we need to intentionally shift our focus from fear to faith, asking ourselves how God wants us to be strong in faith and face our giants.

God is impressed not by a sinless life but by a courageous, faithful one.

The Thrill of Living by Faith

Why live by faith? Because living by faith is thrilling.

God may call us to forgive someone, take a stand at work, endure trials, share our faith, or take on new responsibilities in the church. It’s in these acts of faith that we see God’s miracles and creativity at work.

Paul in Galatians 5:6 says

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

So, let’s ask each other to share about what takes a lot of faith for us to do so that we can encourage one another.

And let us remember the times when God had worked miracles in our lives when we stepped out in courageous faith and trusted him.

Faith vs Fear

In conclusion, let’s make a decision to choose daily to be strong, to trust, and to have faith.

It’s okay to feel weak, but let’s not refuse God by giving in to our fears. With faith, we can overcome our struggles and witness the amazing things God will do through us.

Let’s never back down from the faith journey God has put before us. May God be glorified!