“What is it that makes you anxious? Nervous? Unsettled? Afraid?”

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers: 

Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe, Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is a very good question, isn’t it?  Thanks for asking it, Craig.

He says, “I’m not talking about normal external fears like snakes, spiders, or the fear of flying. I’m wondering what keeps you up at night, those things that ricochet in your mind and refuse to be quieted. Things like losing your job. Not getting married. Or being stuck in a bad marriage. Having your health fail. Draining your savings account just to get by.

“We don’t know what exact fears were running through David’s mind, but it’s clear he was troubled about his safety and perhaps his future. Because after asking God to search his heart, David prayed, ‘know my anxious thoughts’ (Ps. 139:23). He wanted to share his worst fears with God. To face them and give them a name. To trust that God was bigger than any fear David could dream up.”

Craig asks, “Are you willing to pray such a prayer? ‘Lord, reveal what holds my mind hostage. Show me what I fear the most. Go ahead, help me face what terrifies me.’

“You might wonder why our ‘anxious thoughts’ matter to God. It’s not necessarily about our comfort and experiencing a stress-free life. But the answer to this question is perhaps much more important than most of us would understand on the surface.

“What we fear matters."

He asks, “What are the areas that you’re clinging to even while allowing them to terrify you? What fears are you withholding from God?

“Think about it. If you’re gripped with fear about the future of your marriage, this is an indication that you don’t completely trust God with your marriage. If you’re overwhelmed with worry about how you will pay your bills, this reveals that you may not be trusting God to be your provider. If you’re paralyzed with worry about the safety of your children, could it be that you aren’t trusting God to keep them safe?

He later says, “Our fears matter. Because ultimately, our fears show how we’re relying on our own efforts and not trusting in our Savior. The truth is we—you and I and everyone—are always inadequate. We’re never enough. We’re always weak. But here’s the incredible thing: when we’re weak, God’s power is made perfect (see 2 Cor. 12:9).

“Your greatest fear may point you to your best chance at making a difference in the world. You need God for every moment of every day. Everything you do of value is born out of his heart, his power, his grace.”

He then says, “To please God, to serve him, to honor him, to live for him, you cannot be driven by fear. You must be led by faith.”

So, are you driven by fear?  Don’t you think it would be better to be drive by faith? 

Yes, yes!