Why don’t we like to change? Because the status quo is comfortable, it’s familiar, it’s a known factor in our life. We LIKE it, we can count on what we know or what we THINK we know.
The fact is that life throws a lot at us and in the past many years and in the coming years, events are occurring all around us that are causing us to have to adapt and change.
We don’t like to change because it usually involves unknowns, we like to have control and to know what’s going to happen. Unknown situations are scary and we want to avoid fearful situations, so we don’t change because we just don’t know what’s on the other side of that change.
Yet the bible says, “FEAR NOT!” over 300 times.
Usually in school when the teacher repeats something more than once, there’s a reason. It’s IMPORTANT! (And it’s probably going to be on the test.)
Fear not, I am thy shield
– Genesis 15:1
Fear not, I am with thee
– Gen 26:24, 2 Chronicles 20:17
Fear not, neither be discouraged
– Deuteronomy 1:21
Fear not, Be strong and of good courage
– Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20
Fear not, I will help thee
– Isaiah 41:13
Fear not, I have redeemed you, called you by name and you are mine - Isaiah 43:1
Fear not, I formed you in the womb
– Isaiah 44:2
Fear not, and don’t be ashamed
- Isaiah 54:4
Fear not, the Lord will do great things
– Joel 2:21
Fear not, thy prayer is heard
– Luke 1:13
Fear not, I bring good tidings
– Luke 2:10
Fear not, believe and be made whole
– Luke 8:50
God is even more clear in 2 Timothy 1:7 where he says:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
What do you fear?
What if you go back to school and don’t pass a class?
What if you change careers and aren’t successful in that new field?
What if you go after a dream and it flops and you "look bad"?
What if you get out of debt, THEN you’ll have to make decisions about finances when it’s easier to have all your money tied up in creditors?
What if you open up to your spouse or start doing for them and they don’t ever come around?
What if you reach out to your kids and they act like they don’t want anything to do with you?
What if you change… and then revert to your old ways and feel like a failure once again?
What if you ask that girl out and she doesn’t like you?
What if you seek God and you can't find him?
What if…
These are all lies of the enemy to have you living in fear of the outcome so that you never try.
God doesn’t want fear to be any part of your thinking. He knows it is, otherwise he wouldn’t address it so many times. But he offers reassurance all through the bible that he doesn’t want you to fear, he didn’t make you that way.
So when you are faced with change and the fear rises up, know that your heavenly Father wants you to stand firm and know that he has your back and for you to FEAR NOT!
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