The Temptation Of Giving In To Fear

Feb. 12, 2013  

Matthew 6:13

...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ...  

     I  previously viewed this as the temptation to sin in just the physical sense like gluttony, stealing, swearing, etc. but there are other ways to give into temptation. Some times the temptation is to give in to fear. When attacks of anxiety, fear and self doubt come,  we are tempted to give up or stop trying. That is exactly what the opposition wants us to do. We become so weary that we want to give up. 

     I think of the Parable of the Talents. One man was too scared to use his talent, to increase what God had given him. He was afraid to fail and so he did not even try. By doing nothing he did fail. His failure to try showed a lack of faith in himself and perhaps in his Master. 

     God forgive me for the times I have been paralyzed with fear and didn't really try. I remember an exchange of dialog in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”.  Failing to please her boss after doing all that she thought she could, the main character, Andy visits another another employee, Nigel. In tears she tell him, “I’m trying!” Nigel tells her, “You're not trying, you're whining." He then helps her to see that someone else would die for the chance to do her job.

Sometimes we can all feel overwhelmed like this. This is just one of the many reasons it is so vitally important take the time everyday to sit quietly, knowing we are in His presence. He calms our souls and minds and gives us the strength and confirmation we need to carry on. We can hear His voice. He will speak exactly what we need to hear in that moment, if we will just Be Still and Listen.