Fearless: The Wisdom of Trusting God in Adversity

Do you trust God? Some of us say “You bet!” Some of us say “Yes, but…” Some of us don’t trust Him at all or even acknowledge His existence.

Truth is, I’m in the “Yes, but” category more often than I’d like to think. Trusting God day in and day out is really easy…until He asks you to do something that scares the socks off of you, something that will make you really unpopular, something you’ve never tried and don’t know how to do, or something you’ve tried before and have failed at doing more times than you can count.

When we’re on autopilot doing our thing and God is the invisible copilot of our life, trust is easy because in truth, we’re trusting ourselves and expect God will get us out of a jam if we get into one. Taking a joy ride through life with God as a copilot requires remarkably little trust in Him.

But…when God says, “Excuse Me, but you’re in My seat” and decides to take over as pilot by rights, that’s when a holy fear sets in. He steers to places we don’t want to go … to learn lessons we need to learn but don’t want to … and He tests our faith and monitors the who and what of our fears.

Fearless is the Wisdom of Trusting God in Adversity.

When He’s the pilot and steers your flight to the war zone

and you’re tempted to be scared,

instead be fearless because you trust Him and you trust what He’s doing.

Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

As you reread this passage of Scripture, note the bookends of why we should not fear and our reasons to be fearless. His creative work is unparalleled. His redemption is permanent. His summons is real. His ownership is authentic and inalterable. His presence with you is promised. His protection flows from His character as an almighty, unchangeable, and loving God.

He can command “Fear not” because He was there in the past when you were created and formed and redeemed and summoned. He is here claiming ownership. You are mine, He says. He declares His promise to be with His redeemed as He is forever I AM. What a powerful final bookend! It’s like a gavel pounding. He says