Living in the Gray Area
Andy Manley
The things we fear rarely happen. The hard part is that fear is an emotion. We can try and use logic. We can try and reassure ourselves. We can try and come up with all the reasons why the things we’re afraid of won’t come true. But, fear is still an emotion and emotions have a way of overriding our thinking. I’ll be completely honest… Me seeing a spider is the equivalent to someone else getting in a fight with a bear.
There’s a story in the book of Joshua where he had to choose between fear and faith that God was the one in control. The Israelites were moving into the land that God had called them to. They had just been defeated in a battle by the people of Ai but Joshua was still planning to take over their city. He was going to lead 5,000 Israelites in to distract them. The plan was to get the people of Ai to chase them, while the rest of his soldiers set up an ambush for them. Joshua was going to give the others the signal to take the city when he turned his spear towards them.
Joshua 8:18 says, “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Point the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the town over to you.” Joshua did as he was commanded.” God was in control of the whole situation and they ended up winning the battle.
The part that stuck out to me the most was what Joshua must’ve been feeling after he pointed the spear and before the other help came. The fear of if God was as present as he thought He was. The fear of losing. The fear of people questioning his leadership. The fear of mishearing God’s voice. He was in the gray area. We can give into fear. Or… we can choose to use these moments as an opportunity to grow in our faith.
Our lack of control leads to fear. 2020 has given us plenty of reasons to fear.
I seem to keep relearning this lesson in life! Our security comes from a God that’s in total control rather than in me trying to control everything. My ultimate peace comes from a God who created the world and also says He wants to know me personally.
Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.