This Saturday I’m thankful to welcome Christen Price, chatting about something important: Fear and Fearlessness.

This past weekend, I saw a commercial that I’m sure most of you have seen. Take a moment to watch it below:

Haven’t we all had a moment like that when we were overcome with fear? Even though the spider wasn’t real, the people at the table were afraid. The dictionary tells us that fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, or pain. Whether the threat is real or imagined; fear is the feeling or condition of being afraid. So often, when we are afraid, we are bound to that feeling of terror. Our fear takes hold of us and restrains us; we become chained to that fear.

In our lives, we encounter threats of fear daily – whether they are real or imagined. It could be a real fear of not having enough money this month to pay the bills. Or, it could be an imagined fear for our children that they will get in a wreck on their way to school this morning. However real or imagined our fears are, they prevent us from living life the way God called us to live.

While Paul was in jail in Rome, he wrote, “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly (Phil. 1:13-14).” Paul had a real threat on his life but instead of being chained to that fear of death, he chose to be in chains for Christ. Because of this choice, he became fearless.

I have spent the majority of my life living in imagined fear. Fear of taking risks, fear of the unknown, fear of my life not turning out as planned. Last year, I was faced for the first time with real fear as my twin girls were born three months premature.

During their 83 day stay in the NICU, the Lord showed me through His steadfast love to give Him all of my fears and worry. I clung desperately to the words of Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Friends, to be fearless does not mean never feeling fear or being scared during life situations. Being fearless allows us, like Paul, to break our chains from this world and begin to be chained to Christ. With those chains comes new joy, fresh hope, and a steadfast love that will carry us through this crazy thing we call life. Whether or not our fears are real or imagined, to be fearless is to live life trusting Christ.

Till next time, let your light shine,

Blessings, christen