“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Fear has a mission, and that is to bring paralysis to one’s heart and mind in order to keep them from moving forward. I know something about this because fear has kept me from moving forward and doing the things I knew I needed to do at times. But, what I’ve discovered is that when I start stepping and moving forward in an area, I realize quickly how big of a LIE the fears within me really were.
There’s an incredible story that illustrates this so well in 2 Kings 6 & 7. Samaria had come under siege by a massive Aram army. Paralysis gripped the city as no food or supplies could get in or out which led to a severe famine. People were reduced to desperate measures just to survive, causing the king to send for Elisha.
Elisha came with an answer and a word from Heaven, saying that within 24 hours everything would turn around and the items needed for basic necessities that had sold for adsorbent prices, would be purchased at a fraction of the cost. Immediately Elisha’s word was scoffed at by one of the king’s officers saying, “That couldn’t happen if the Lord opened the windows of heaven.” To which Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your eyes, but you want be able to eat any of it.”
That night God used four lepers who felt they had nothing to lose. They new if they stayed in the city they would die of starvation, so they decide to leave the camp and head for the enemy’s camp. As they did, God used the sound of their footsteps to sound like a massive army coming to the aid of the Syrian’s. The Aram army was so afraid that they headed for the hills in fear, leaving everything in their massive camp behind. When news spread, the citizens rushed out and the famine was instantly broken. But, for that “critic officer” he was trampled to death at the city gate.
What fears are keeping you from stepping? Today, regardless of what those lying fears may be telling you, go ahead and take that “step of faith!” If you’ll just move forward by putting one foot in front of the other, you may find yourself stepping right into the very place of victory and abundance you’ve been praying for.