Faith Over Fear
Yesterday, a friend told me she would pray I decided to choose faith over fear. Convicting. Especially because this friend is 20 and in just over a week I will be 51. I've been following Jesus longer than she has been alive.
Shouldn't I have that one down by now?
Faith over fear. The rewards of faith decisions have proven so great over the years. I chose faith over and fear and went to New York City in the summer of 1983 for an 8-week internship at a trade magazine. I chose faith over fear that summer and studied the Bible and began a life journey down a new path that has brought blessing upon blessing (and plenty of challenges along the way).
Faith over fear is what drove me to say yes when Tom wanted to move to Africa in 1989. Faith helped me pack everything into 2 suitcases (1 for each of us) and fly to a country and continent I knew so little about. Faith kept me happy in a two bedroom apartment furnished with 4 straw chairs, a small table, a mattress and 2 straw baskets we used as side tables. Faith taught me to tackle new adventures and learn new things. I sewed curtains for our home. I sewed a beautiful mosquito net made of lace for our bedroom. I cooked on a little 2 burner gas grill and survived without a refrigerator, oven or washing machine for 3 years. Faith could not, however, persuade me to eat the flying ants that invaded Nairobi periodically.
Faith taught me how to build friendships with and give my heart eagerly to women I had very little in common with in many ways. Faith also taught me that while our life circumstances might be different, in all the ways that mattered I actually had much in common with those women. I loved living in Nairobi so much!
So, today I am writing. I chose faith over fear once again. Goodness, if I can live in Africa, surely I can write about what I learned. How can the writing be more challenging than the living?
Shouldn't I have that one down by now?
Faith over fear. The rewards of faith decisions have proven so great over the years. I chose faith over and fear and went to New York City in the summer of 1983 for an 8-week internship at a trade magazine. I chose faith over fear that summer and studied the Bible and began a life journey down a new path that has brought blessing upon blessing (and plenty of challenges along the way).
Faith over fear is what drove me to say yes when Tom wanted to move to Africa in 1989. Faith helped me pack everything into 2 suitcases (1 for each of us) and fly to a country and continent I knew so little about. Faith kept me happy in a two bedroom apartment furnished with 4 straw chairs, a small table, a mattress and 2 straw baskets we used as side tables. Faith taught me to tackle new adventures and learn new things. I sewed curtains for our home. I sewed a beautiful mosquito net made of lace for our bedroom. I cooked on a little 2 burner gas grill and survived without a refrigerator, oven or washing machine for 3 years. Faith could not, however, persuade me to eat the flying ants that invaded Nairobi periodically.
Faith taught me how to build friendships with and give my heart eagerly to women I had very little in common with in many ways. Faith also taught me that while our life circumstances might be different, in all the ways that mattered I actually had much in common with those women. I loved living in Nairobi so much!
So, today I am writing. I chose faith over fear once again. Goodness, if I can live in Africa, surely I can write about what I learned. How can the writing be more challenging than the living?
Dear Lori,
ReplyDeleteYou helped me choose faith over fear that one day in 1985 when you took me to the beach and asked me what I was afraid of in deciding to become a Christian. I had all these fears in my heart but could not verbalize what was making me afraid. You pointed out that if I could not say specifically what I was afraid of, then it was Satan who wanted me to feel afraid so that I would not make the right decision. Your words made a lot of sense to me. I was baptized the next day.
Thank you for your love and wisdom. Today I need to continue to remind myself to choose faith over fear.
Love,
Elexa
Your life has always been an upward call to me, Elexa! Your faith is inspiring!!
DeleteLove you,
Lori