6- What are the fears that hold you back?

What are some of your common fears? One of mine? Heights! Or maybe is it really getting hurt? I don’t know, maybe both. It seems to get weirder as I get older and the consequences of what that fear come to life could actually mean. I sit down on tall edges I have to make my way down instead of just jumping, I move my body to the center of the car when we’re driving precariously close to the edge of a mountain (as if that makes any difference at all). Fears come in all shapes and sizes and although there are many things we could fear in this life, the fears we want to talk about today are the ones that hold us back from things God might be calling us to do. It could be anything from restoring a relationship, to writing that book, to starting that business, what is holding you back? Just like me, we think leaning into the middle of the car will help us be safe, but it’s just an illusion, it makes us feel better in the moment but it’s not helping at all. We do have life experience that has hurt us and we, as human beings, generally want to avoid anything that could cause us pain or make us feel uncomfortable. We like safe and predictable. We might be bored, stuck, and even frustrated as we see others jump towards their thing but we aren’t so sure we are willing to give up “safe” for the risk. The Lord knows how hard it is to be courageous. When Joshua takes over for Moses and God puts him in charge of leading the Israelites into the promise land He tells him over and over again to be strong and courageous, to not be frightened. If Joshua simply spent too much time comparing himself to Moses or recounting how the people responded the last time he came back and told them they should take the land, well he wouldn’t have gotten very far. Let’s not try and excuse ourselves from what it is God is calling us to by saying things that sound super spiritual to ourselves like we’re trying to remain humble or waiting on God. While both those things are good and important, there also comes a time to get out there and start moving toward the thing that God is calling you to. That might not mean stepping on a stage, but it might mean talking to that neighbor, pursuing reconciliation, or daring to believe that the dream you see in your heart, might actually be from God. We don’t love and serve our dreams, but what if they really are God and we are so scared we might be wrong and people will point that out to us, that we never try? We will be in blatant disobedience to God Almighty. In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and love and of a sound mind.” So what if you fail? What then? What if you get it wrong and spend time building something or working towards something that wasn’t “the thing”. When our hearts are surrendered to God (and we know when they are or not) we know that He will work all those things for His glory. The big thing is to remember this isn’t about us looking good, being fabulous, famous or being right about our own call, this is all about a faith that say, “I”m not sure but He is worthy of trying.” Go and build. SHOW NOTES https://www.ashleymorganjackson.com/podcast/2019/9/5/podcast-ep6-what-are-the-fears-that-hold-you-back CALLED TO BUILD FB COMMUNITY: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calledtobuildcommunity/ CALLED TO BUILD INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/calledtobuild/ FREE "WHAT AM I CALLED TO?" WORKBOOK: https://www.ashleymorganjackson.com/called Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/called-to-build/donations