Fear is a liar. But what is fear’s great lie? —That God really won’t be enough for me.
But God says, “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. (Isa 41:10)
That verse came to my mind, many years ago, as I lay pleading with the Lord the night I learned my first husband had taken his life.
In my most fearful moment, God slayed my fears with truth.
Powerful truth. Hold-on-to truth. Fear-killing truth!
Paul wrote about this truth. Paul lived in that truth. He knew the truth that, no matter what this life brings, Christ is enough for us.
And if Christ is truly sufficient (2 Cor 3:5), if He is truly enough for us, we have incredible hope (2 Cor 3:12).
And that hope brings a boldness to live our lives without fear.
If Jesus is my everything, I can love others regardless of how they love me back- because Jesus has already filled my tank. He is my first love.
Because Christ is my prize, I can risk what others think of me to follow Him, even when the world is not, because His praise is all I’ve learned to need.
Because of God’s abiding presence, I can face the unknown, I can serve in the hard places, I can let go of every earthly thing—because I know, on the other side of all I could ever face, is my sweet Lord.
“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us but our sufficiency is from God who has made us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor 3:4-6)
And if Christ is enough for us, when the hard days come, we can keep going.
But you can’t just take my words for it. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17)
Open up His Word. Ask God to speak.
That same God who whispered that hope-giving truth from His Word during my tragedy-He will speak to you. He will comfort you.
Ask Him to remind you of His faithful love. Ask Him to calm your fears and guide your steps. Ask Him to help you be aware of His abiding presence.
Oh, He loves you! How He loves you! How He wants to make His nearness known in your life.
He wants you to trust Him and walk with Him in real relationship.
God has blessed me with so many people and things I love. He has used those broken days. He has restored my joy.
But all those blessings are just icing on my cake. He is my “cake”. He is enough…more than enough. My hope and my confidence are in Him.
And when my knees get shaky, when I feel my strength failing, even when I’m faithless, He is still faithful.(2 Tim 2:13). Every day. Every moment.
…not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3:5)
Run to Jesus
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(Originally shared a couple of years ago as I studied through Corinthians . Felt led to share again today. Praying someone needed to hear it)
Kim Jaggers Ministry 