“Goliath Must Fall”: The Giant of Fear

One of my favorite games as a kid was “trust fall”. I don’t know if that is actually what it is called, but that is how it is known as to me. The game consists of one person standing in front of another with her back facing the person behind her. The one in front falls backward, into the arms of the person behind. The person falling back is assuming she will be caught.  It is an adrenaline rush, and I have never been one to stray away from those. However, that is not to say I do not have fear. I definitely do. In fact, while not necessarily shown by my liking this game, I do have that “giant” – fear – often trying to rob me of a full life with God.

I try to live by the phrase: “Living fearlessly in pursuit of the One who created me”. The Bible often instructs us to “fear not”. The “fear not” command (as with so many of the Bible’s commands) are ways we are called to live as Christ did. The Creator of the universe knows us, knows what is best for us, and knows the best way to live life. As we learn to trust as Jesus did, we grow closer to Him. Fearlessness grows as we seek the Lord and trust his “loving arms” to catch us, and embrace us and guide us; in that way, we can learn to live fearlessly (or at least better handle times of fear of the unknown).

A great example of this fearless living and being willing to risk in following God is my cousin Sarah Garrett. She heard God calling her to more in her life, and she heard His call to serve others by teaching English as a foreign language to others.  She studied and felt called to move to Costa Rica to teach at a language school there. As things came together, all fell into place for her to leave last week! The door was wide open, and she took that step. As the date got closer and closer, I can imagine that she became more anxious (and also more excited). She continued to trust the Lord, and she is now in Costa Rica getting settled. She didn’t stay fearful, and as she is fulfilling what the Lord has planned for her life, growing closer to Him and living aligned with Him. Go SARAH! LOVE YOU GIRLIE!

Giglio in the book “Goliath Must Fall” addresses the giant of fear. Some have succumbed to paralyzing fear, and just as in the game of “trust fall”, it is not easy to trust enough to “fall” when logic says to stay on your feet. All logic tells us to trust ourselves, we are the only ones we can trust, and that I have to look out for myself as I am number one.  However, logic cannot always explain or be used in some things the Lord asks of us. A fearful life is not a joyful one. Giglio notes in his book “Goliath Must Fall” is that the answer to fear is not more determination, but rather having faith. If we shift our focus to seeking the Lord and immersing ourselves in His goodness, fear has no room in our lives. Fear and faith cannot be in the same place. Our lips cannot speak praises and also submit to words of fear. Giglio ends the chapter beautifully, “Our responsibility is to have faith. That’s the antidote. God is able. Jesus is enough. When we set our eyes on him, we will not be shaken. We will rest secure.” (Giglio 77). The antidote to fear is faith, and when one is focusing on the greatness of who God is, our fear succumbs to these declarations and praises. No matter where your relationship with God is, fear will fall if we trust and submit to God, knowing He is able and enough.

In the midst of something new or scary, our challenge is to have faith in God knowing He has gone before us and prepared us for this journey. Trusting and having this faith in the Lord will only draw us closer to God and allow our lives to be more aligned with God.

Praying for our focus on faith and praise in Jesus so we defeat the giant of fear this week, month, year, and forever!

Love always

Katie Girl

Sources:

Giglio, Louie. Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle against Your Giants. Passion Publishing, 2017.