Fear is so UGLY....

Fear is ugly.

Not always loud. Not always dramatic. Sometimes fear is sneaky. It will sit in the background of your life, whispering little things like, “You probably can’t do that,” “What if you fail?” or “What are people going to say?” And before you know it, fear has moved from being a feeling to being a decision-maker.

I know because I’ve lived it.

There have been times when I was so afraid of failing that I just didn’t start. I was afraid I wouldn’t stay committed at the gym, so instead of giving myself a chance, I decided not to go at all. And what did I do? Kept eating. Now listen, that may sound funny, but it’s true. Fear will convince you that if you might not do something perfectly, you shouldn’t do it at all.

I’ve been afraid of what people would think if I didn’t fit the mold they had for me. But God had to remind me of something that hit me deeply: you cannot fit what was never created for you to fit in. Sis, some of us are exhausted because we are trying to squeeze ourselves into spaces, relationships, expectations and identities that were never designed for us.

I’ve been afraid of failing. I’ve been afraid of not being enough. I’ve been afraid of what people would say about me. I’ve been afraid of loss. I’ve even been afraid of dying too soon because I experienced the loss of my sister in her 40s. Fear has touched some very real places in my life.

But I have learned this: the opposite of fear is not the absence of fear. It is courage.

Courage does not always look like walking into a room feeling ten feet tall and completely confident. Sometimes courage looks like your knees shaking while you say, “Okay, God. I’m going anyway.”

Sometimes courage is simply doing it scared.

There have been so many things I have done scared. I have prayed, “God, I’m nervous. I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. But give me the courage to do what You told me to do and the strength to finish the work.”

And can we talk about how God will sign you up for things without even asking you first? 😂 You’ll just be minding your business and suddenly God is like, “Okay, here’s the assignment.” Excuse me, Lord… was there a committee meeting? Did I miss the vote? Because I do not remember volunteering for all of this!😂😂😂😂 God simply shakes his head at me everytime... I know it!! LOL.

But I’m learning that I cannot measure my readiness only by how ready I feel. If I only did the things I felt completely prepared for, I would have missed some of the greatest things God has allowed me to experience.

There are times when I look at an assignment and think, “God, are You sure?” And I imagine Him looking back like, “Yes. That is why I gave it to YOU.” God doesn’t need me to know everything before I obey Him. He needs me to trust that if He called me, He will equip me. If He opened the door, He will give me what I need to walk through it. If He gave me the assignment, then my insecurity does not have the authority to cancel what God has already approved.

That has been one of the biggest lessons of my life.

I cannot keep looking at what I think I’m ready for. I have to start looking at what God says I am ready for. Fear will tell you to wait until you feel confident. Courage says, “Take the step while you’re still praying.”

Fear says, “What if you fail?” Courage asks, “But what if God meets you there?”

Fear says, “People might talk about you.” Courage says, “They were probably going to talk anyway, Sis. Go do what God told you to do.” 😂 That part!!!

Fear says, “You don’t have everything you need.” Faith says, “Maybe not yet. But the One who sent me does.”

So let me ask you something.

What have you been putting off because you’re afraid you won’t succeed?

What would you attempt if you stopped worrying about what everybody else thought?

Where has fear been making decisions for you?

What has God been asking you to do that you keep telling Him you’re not ready for?

And maybe the biggest question is this: What would change in your life if you stopped waiting to stop being scared and simply asked God for the courage to move while you are scared?

I’d love for you to comment and answer one of those questions. You never know — your honesty may give another woman the courage to admit what she has been afraid of too.

Fear may show up.

Yeah... it may talk.

Fear may even ride with you for a little while..... But Sis, fear does not get to drive anymore.

Do it scared.

Pray for courage.

Take the step.

Finish the work.

And trust that the God who signed you up — without asking, by the way 😂 — already knew what He put inside of you before He ever gave you the assignment.

• Pastor Adrienne