Have you ever felt stuck? Like you’re staring at a map, but the path forward is blurred? Maybe it was a change you wanted to make, a goal you wanted to reach. Or maybe you encountered an unusually challenging situation that you were determined to face head-on. You started out strong but because of roadblocks or unfortunate circumstances, you lost sight of what could be. Now the dream looks too big, the problem too great. You tried, but it didn’t work out. Now it seems like it’s too late.
At times we all experience unfamiliar circumstances or transitions in our lives that make us feel uneasy and even fearful. We don’t feel qualified. We don’t have the training, the connections, or the experience for what’s in front of us. Any time you try to move forward, voices whisper, “You’re not strong enough, good enough, talented enough.”
I have written this post to help you take that step of faith, to live actively within the belief that God has equipped you to do what He has called you to. No one who’s ever done anything great in life has done it without fear. So let’s learn how we’re graced to go—not in the strength we wish we had —but in the strength we do have, through God’s infinite power, His love for us, and through the amazing plans He has for each of our lives.
One of the things that constantly raises a lot of questions in my mind is God’s promises. I can plainly see how God made promises to His people and was consistently incredibly dependable in keeping them as I study the Old Testament. Stories like the life of Abraham or the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt make it abundantly clear that He is a God who keeps His promises. But how can I determine which promises in God’s Word truly apply to me as a follower of Christ when I consider how it relates to me today? How can I live my life believing in His promises?
2 Peter 1:3-4 says:
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.“
God had high purposes in mind when he included this passage in the Bible. Not only do we worship an eternal God who has ruled and will continue to rule, but He also consistently fulfills His promises.
God was already aware that in a world and generation that values instant results, it can be difficult for us as humans to keep our word. God was already aware that we might experience disappointment from loved ones, people, and circumstances that could make it difficult for us to believe that the promise would be fulfilled.
God already knew that even humans find it difficult to make and keep promises, but our God is not like that.
🛡️ The Battle for Your Mind
It’s easy to let self-doubt, insecurity, or fear keep us from stepping into the new things God has in store for us. The defeating thoughts and feelings come swiftly and noisily, threatening to drown out God’s reassuring and affirming voice, pulling us away from the vision, the dream, the calling.
This internal struggle is a central theme in the Bible. The Apostle Paul understood it well. He wrote about taking control of our thoughts and aligning them with truth:
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
This verse isn’t about positive thinking; it’s about captive thinking. It’s the active process of identifying the lies of “you’re not enough” and replacing them with God’s truth.
💪 How Do We Stand Firm?
How do we stand firm in the knowledge that we wouldn’t be facing the giant if God hadn’t already given us a sling? How do we trust the promise that with God’s blessing and favor, we will bring down giants? How can we live our days in the knowledge that we are not lacking, not at a disadvantage, not too old or too young, that we have everything we need to fulfill the destiny that God has appointed for us?
The answer often comes back to remembering who God is and who He says we are. When Moses felt completely inadequate for the giant task of leading Israel out of Egypt, God’s response wasn’t a pep talk about Moses’ skills. It was a revelation of His own presence.
“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
— Exodus 3:14 (ESV)
Our strength isn’t found in our own “I am” – “I am strong,” “I am capable.” It’s found in His “I AM.” We are equipped because He is with us.
🚶♂️ Moving into God’s promises requires faith in action
It’s about getting out of the comfort and confines of what you think you are capable of and trusting that God can lead you into the places He has for you. For most of us, that means reaching for more than what we think is attainable. It means stepping across the line that fear has drawn. It means being willing to take on projects and responsibilities that may look overwhelming to you. It’s understanding that God has allowed that challenge in your life because He knows you’re capable of overcoming it.
This is the essence of the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, where ordinary people did extraordinary things by acting on their faith.
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
— Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
Abraham didn’t have a full map. He had a promise and a direction. His step of faith was the first one.
🔊 Listening to the Right Voice
It’s tempting to shrink back, but when you listen, you’ll hear that still small voice telling you to move forward. When you take that step of faith, God will step in and help you do what you feel you can’t do. You’ll discover ability that you didn’t know you had.
You can’t wait until your fear disappears. You may have to step out in faith, in spite of the fear. You may never feel like all the conditions are right. Too many of us are living with hidden dreams, unused talents, and untapped potential simply because we’ve let fear convince us to play it safe.
God’s message is consistently one of courage, not because of our strength, but because of His.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Moving Into God’s Promises Verses
Matthew 7:7 states, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Habakkuk 2:2-4 states , “Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”
Galatians 6:1 states , “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”
Leave a Reply