Hope and faith. Trust and faith. Love and faith. Some common terms I hear in the Christian world. Goes together, hand in hand. But what I tend to experience more is fear and faith.
What is fear?
F.E.A.R. is the acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. I believe this is an apt acronym to describe fear, which I once heard a pastor use in his sermon. Because it seems to be that invisible feeling expressed as an outward, mostly negative connotation to it; that we associate fear with.
It is interesting that the Bible describes faith as being unseen (Hebrews chapter 11, verse 1) yet has anyone thought that fear is also unseen as well?
There is so much fear that we hear about. Most common I have heard or seen is fear of heights, rejection, failure. These can hurt one's feelings so deep some of us never recover from that fear. It grips us to the point where we rather avoid feeling or facing that fear ever again.
What is faith?
Hebrews chapter 11 is the commonly identified faith reference in the Bible with verses of people who have been faithful.
For me, faith is when I will say yes, even though all of me says no. Faith is when I say yes to God despite not knowing what or how my situation will change. Faith is me believing in myself, believing in God more and less in myself and my capacity.
With this type of faith comes what I feel is a tangled web of fear and faith which I believe sometimes cannot be separated. The more situations I go through, the more I feel like they come hand in hand.
Part of me is fearful and the other part of me is faithful. I am fearful because I am still human, I am faithful because I still believe.
Which leads me to consider is there a way to separate being fearful and being faithful? Or another question to consider is - should we be using fear to propel us into being faithful? Using what is normally considered to be a negative feeling to bring a positive one.
One situation
One situation I can think of that may demonstrate an answer to this question is when you are 12,000 feet in the sky and in a plane, ready to jump out to skydive. You are so fearful of jumping out but at the same time, this is the moment you have always dreamt of.
That was me. Skydiving had been on my bucket list for years. I got an opportunity a few years ago and at the back of my mind, I knew the risk of the parachute not opening. I could die. That could have been my last plane ride.
Before I jumped out, I chose to put any negative thoughts with that kiwi attitude to just "go for it". I chose to put my negative thoughts behind my faithfulness to pursue my bucket list.
Because like any human, I was 100% scared. But even when being scared, I still had that choice to be fearful of jumping or faithful to jumping.
This situation shows you can end up in any circumstance where you will face fear and faith. They may be tangled and come as a package, but I believe everyone with wisdom and prayer, can make a choice to be fearful or faithful in life.
It is like the common saying – Do you see the glass half empty or half full?
Those that choose to see the glass half empty – you would tend to associate this with a pessimistic person. Those that choose to see the glass half full – you would tend to associate this with a positive person.
Those that do not want to make a choice or do not know which choice they are going to make, I am sorry to say the milk will go spoiled.
So, at the end of the day, in your next situation - will you choose fear, or will you choose faith?
Cindy Adwong lives and works in Auckland. My aim in life is to live life to the fullest daily. I love being effective and efficient in all I do. My hobbies include spending time with people, baking, cooking, travelling and just being alive, amongst numerous to name.
Cindy Adwong lives and works in Auckland. My aim in life is to live life to the fullest daily. I love being effective and efficient in all I do. My hobbies include spending time with people, baking, cooking, travelling and just being alive, amongst numerous to name.