Today's Pearl: Embrace Fear
It is true that we need to recognize Fear as a warning, that something may be wrong. For instance in the presence of such warnings our sympathetic nervous system kicks in, which is our "fight or flight" response and we must take action.
But what we also must realize is that we need to have an "Embrace" response to fear as well. Sometimes, fear means that we are in the presence of God!
Examples from Luke Chapter One:
1. An angel of God appears unannounced to Zachariah (God can "show" up at any moment! I love that!)..."Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear." Luke 1.8-12 (emphasis added).
And look at what the angel says to Zachariah in response to Zachariah's fear:
"Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard."
Could it be that if we are feeling fear, that it means that we are right in the sweet spot of God's answer to our Prayers? I think so...
2. God sends the angel Gabriel to Mary..."She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. Luke 1.29-33 (emphasis added)
God answered the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth...God had a surprise for Mary and Joseph...They go on to give birth to John The Baptist and Jesus The Christ, respectively...
What are we praying for and desiring to do with our lives for God's Glory? Do any of these hopes and dreams stir up a little fear in us? If so, it is probably the Fear we must "Embrace" because God might just have a surprise for us!
