Reluctant=”feeling or showing aversion, hesitation, or unwillingness” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Have you ever been reluctant to try something new? I know I have!

The more I think about it, the more I realize that my reluctance is often caused by fear. So often in life we let fear grab hold of us and tie us to our chairs. Fear has a way of stopping us dead in our tracks.

But the truth is that God walks with us in the midst of our reluctance and our fear. When I first started praying about respite foster care, I felt this nudge from God but so often I would subside that nudge. I would push it down and forget that I even felt it. But the truth is that I have known all along that this is a ministry that I truly believe God is calling me too. Yet I let fear get in the way!

Once I let go of the fear, I have found a freedom and a peace that has come over me. A freedom and peace that is overwhelming (in a good way). I can’t help but think of the words “do not be afraid” that appear 365 times in Scripture–one for every day of the year.

As we enter the Advent season, I think of how Mary and Joseph both heard those very words. If Mary had let fear get in the way, would she have been chosen to give birth to the Christ child? If Joseph had let fear get in the way, would he have just let Mary to her own-to raise this child by herself? Jesus entered the world and broke the chains of fear for both his earthly mother and father. Jesus breaks the chains of fear by dying on a cross for our sins because God loves us that much.

Fear is a liar.

Fear will not have the final word.