Fear and Doubt
Fear and doubt are sometimes created by the great experiences in our lives. In such moments, doubt is usually the amplification of an underlying fear.
Normally, it is expected that the aftermath of a great victory will be one of celebration and high spirits. However, this is not always the case. Abraham is one classic example of someone who went through a similar experience. He is therefore one whom we can learn from as we seek to ‘Overcome Fear and Doubt‘ in our lives.
Just after defeating a coalition of kings (and rescuing his nephew and his family and his goods), and declining an offer of spoils from the king of Sodom, the Lord appears to Abraham in a vision to address his pertinent fear. Thus, God promises to be his defender and great reward. Nonetheless, these promises don’t make sense to him.
“What’s the point of receiving rewards? After all, these rewards will just end up in the hands of Eliezer!?”, he probably wonders.
Inheritance is an emotive subject. It was for Abraham too – it was a thorn in his flesh. It was one that he didn’t look forward to engaging in because he didn’t yet have a son of his own.
And so it is for most of us. We have ‘no-go zones’. Thus, there are God’s promises that don’t make sense to us because the necessary “infrastructure” to support such blessings is currently non-existent.
Sometimes we don’t even envision their existence due to present-day realities. So, we don’t maximize our present moments or find peace and joy in our present victories.
Don’t let that fear and doubt cripple your destiny. All you need at your low moments is three (3) things – information, observation and implementation.
Information (Revelation)
What Abraham needed was a reminder from God. And so it is with you – either a statement or restatement of God’s promise to you. Thus, Joshua encourages you and me to declare God’s word through our mouths and meditate on it in our minds (Joshua 1:8). And the Book of Proverbs (18:20-21) reveals that, “A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”
The key to revelation is prayer. Prayer is a sacred priviledge and command that enables us to communicate with God. In turn, God hears and answers our prayers. Those that diligently seek God’s guidance are blessed with personal revelation (Ephesians 1:17).
Observation (Vision)
Next, God asked Abraham to go out of his tent, look up and number the stars. God made him see what he was not seeing – the mammoth size of his generations in the times to come.
You too need to see (observe) the end (reality) of God’s promise or miracle. And this fully depends on revelation which is the grounds for your faith (Romans 10:17). In fact, Proverbs 29:18 (AMP) states it this way: “Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained;
But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].” Further, the writer of Hebrews 11:1 (AMP) puts it this way, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”
”Faith believes the incredible, sees the invisible and does the impossible
Benny HinnBenny Hinn Ministries
Implemenation (Actualisation)
I’m reminded of (the story of) a certain man in our village. Despite the narrow, muddy road to his homestead, and no gates (paths) at the entrances to his neighbours’ homesteads, he decided to put up a gate. His neighbours mocked him wondering when a car would ever be driven to his home. He silently stood his ground.
Years later, he had the last laugh. His first born came driving through that same gate.
Remember, it is only you who knows and is fully convinced of the reality of God’s promises. Those that are close to you have neither the evidence nor the conviction of God’s promises over your life. Therefore, they will not understand why you are doing what you are doing. Even worse, they will discourage what you are doing. But you have to do what you have to do to get to where God wants you to be.
