![]() ![]() In asking whether or not we will have the courage to answer our calling, Smith mentions several virtues: Courage Needs CharacterĬourage is strengthened by character. Here Smith mentions virtue, which is another essential element in dealing with fear. When we encourage others, we pass on that quality and virtue to them, that intangible inner strength which enables us to rise above the fears that so easily cripple us… There is hardly a more powerful ministry that that of encouragement. In addition to offering our fears to God, we can share them with trusted friends, family members or mentors who can encourage us in our vocations. We have hope because in being honest with God about our fears, we can pray for his Spirit to grant us the strength and courage to overcome them. …our confidence is that God goes with us and fills us with his Spirit.įor God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. The Grace of God Helps Us Overcome Our Fears Talking to God about our fears frees us up to receive that which can help us overcome our anxiety. When we acknowledge our fears, we can ask if these are legitimate and whether we are really living in faith, hope, and love… Just because we acknowledge our fears does not somehow make us courageous or justify our actions. Why? Such confession is part of honest, heartfelt analysis. ![]() The wise know that fears haunt us from within and cripple us if we do not face them honestly.Īdmitting our fears to God and trusted friends or community members is essential. Smith writes,Ĭourage begins with honesty about our fears. ‘Fess up to Your Fearsīeing honest about our fears is the first step in overcoming them. Thankfully, Smith offers some answers for finding the courage to face our fears. “We don’t venture into a new opportunity because we fear failure and so would rather continue in mediocrity rather than truly strive for excellence.”.“We don’t speak truth in love to a friend because we fear that he or she will strike back at us in anger or will reject us.”.“We don’t speak truth to the boss, saying what we know we need to say because we fear the implications for our future job prospects.”.Smith, president of Ambrose University College and Seminary, is referring to the fear and anxiety that keeps us from pursuing our vocations. There is a growing chorus coming from diverse sources and contexts that is rightly making the observation that the greatest threat to the fulfillment of our vocations is not external to us but internal. In his book Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential, Gordon T. It could have gone the other way, though – fear could have prevented me from being obedient.įear might be the number one obstacle preventing Christians from following the calling God gives them. It was a major life change, and I didn’t know if I could follow through. I believed God was calling me to take a year after college to live in intentional community with twelve other fellows as we explored what it meant to be people of faithfulness in all areas of our lives, including vocation. I was moving to the nation’s capital to take part in a year-long, post-graduate fellowship program run by The Fellows Initiative. on September 5th, 2009, to begin the sixteen hour drive from St. That’s the question that rang in my head when I woke up at 5 a.m. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |