I have a confession to make about this blog: It frightens me. I’m afraid of being wrong, afraid of being boring, and afraid of offending people. And that’s just for starters. But fearful writers don’t connect. Playing it safe, they’re too timid to inspire or to speak the truth. And so I wrestle for courage every time I post.
The other day God reminded me about playing on seesaws when I was a kid. I was scrawny in those days, and my happy seesaw-memories often crash-landed with some bully on the other end talking smack about bumping my boney butt to the ground. And so I hung there, disabled and distressed.
Fear is a bully on the other end of the board who leaves us dangling, steals our joy, and intimidates us into silence. Having only two weapons in his toolbox, when a child of God refuses to open the front door to Satan’s lies, he sneaks around to the back door to threaten us with fear. I’ve been learning to reject the lies for awhile now, and so I regularly get badgered at the backdoor.
But faith is no lightweight on the seesaw. With the full gravity of Reality backing it up, faith sees from God’s perspective and leaves fear dangling and defenseless. “I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him and were lightened.” (Psalm 34:4-5 KJV)
These are fearful days. It’s easy to allow our popular godless culture to intimidate us into silence, shaking in our shoes when we ought to be shouting in assurance. “When the son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
The daily challenge to stand our ground is not rocket science. It’s as simple as making the choice to believe God in the presence of the bully. For me this morning, that means clicking on the “Publish This Post” button.
(I couldn’t find any copyright information on the photo above, but it was too good to pass up!)
Dispatches from the Shadowlands 
Thank you for your courage today Don! Much needed encouragement this morning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don
Thank you for this blog I look forward to reading it and am always encouraged! Don’t let that bully keep you from posting ! Many blessings to you!
Deb
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deb! Your encouragement hits the mark!
LikeLike
I find myself fighting feeling “muzzled” more often than I’d like to admit. Thank you for your words of honesty and encouragement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we all feel it, Beth. But you have the word of Truth in you, and it carries such power when you speak it.
LikeLike
The photo did indeed capture my eye and heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep… that’s definitely you. It the photo belonged to me I would name it “Melinda’s world.”
LikeLike
Hi Don….Thanks for your blog, its inspiring to read. the right thing at exactly the right time. for me, the bigger my faith, the bigger the devil with his club, definitely sneaking round to the back door. I get to the point its just to much, and see your blog. Blessings. Thankyou.
LikeLike
So glad you’ve found encouragement here, Jenny! We’re all in this together: “When we get together I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” (Romans 1:12)
LikeLike
I’m not surprised of your feelings and questions… It’s so with me too as I stand and share with a culture and language that I do not understand. I have no idea what their minds are saying but I’m beginning to line upon line in my messages. As I step up and begin to share with the different churches here in Mexico, it’s as if autopilot kicks in and soon I’m getting each sentence in my mouth and the interpreter seems about as inspired as I am… it’s really amazing… then, after I’m done ministering and seeing God heal the most amazing conditions of infirmity and sickness… even some deformities, growths, incurable conditions, the enemy begins the barrage of insults and intimidations on my mind, message, and worth. Before and after every sermon it happens. It goes with the territory.
Then, I read something like your “Dispatches from the Shadowland” and get into the Word to ponder the revelation, grace, and inspiration of the Holy Spirit and I stir up the image of my being a chosen spokesperson for the Lord and His Kingdom; we are sent ones, apostolic missionaries, with a message of the King to the furthest regions of the earth and the remote regions within people’s hearts and minds.
LikeLiked by 1 person