Fear leads to falsehoods in the life of Abram and can also happen in our lives when we are afraid, and our faith falters. As famine gripped Canaan, Abram does not seek out the Lord to determine what to do but takes matters into his own hands. One of the most important parts of faith the Lord wants us to learn is to go to Him when we don’t know what to do.
Often, it takes failure on our part before we humble ourselves and seek out the Lord. Peter experienced failure when he denied the Lord, and his insights provide valuable guidance for our journey. 1 Peter 5:6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Abram then compounded his misstep into Egypt by fearing the Egyptians would notice his beautiful wife and take her and kill him. Genesis 12:13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” [1] Abram developed a plan of deception to save himself instead of trusting in the Lord.
Fear Leads to Compromise
How does fear affect us? Fear will either draw us to the Lord or away from Him. One individual’s fear of rejection leads them to compromise the truth to please people. Another person facing the same fear leads them to find their security in the Lord, not the people who are rejecting them. Another person is so intimated by poverty it leads them to steal and cheat, while another person prays to help others who are struggling with poverty.
Our challenges do not make us do things but reveal who we are. When did you last face pressure to compromise your faith in Jesus? Unfortunately, life is not always about success and mountain-top experiences. In our failure, we can cry out to God to forgive us and help us have the strength to correct the mess we have made. Growing in faith from our failures is part of the Christian journey that transforms as we realize how much we need the Lord’s strength to do what is right.
Holding Fast to Our Faith
The Lord calls us to hold fast to our faith, even when situations seem overwhelming, which is the essence of faith. Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[2] There is nothing wrong when we are tempted to give in to fear to cry out to the Lord and ask for His strength.
The Lord knows we are weak and loves to lift us up. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. [3] Do you need God’s strength? Call upon Him now!
To learn how fear leads to falsehoods, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-faith-meets-fear
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.