Introduction

Good morning, beloved. It is indeed a beautiful day, a day filled with the promise of God's unfailing love and His unending grace. We gather here today, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the divine narrative that God is writing. We are all here because we believe in the transformative power of His Word and the life-giving power of His Spirit. We are here because we are a people of hope, a people of faith, and a people of love. We are here because we know that our God is a God who never fails and a God who never changes.

Charles Spurgeon, a man of great faith and wisdom, once said, "Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened." This profound statement encapsulates the essence of our gathering today. We are here to climb those stairs of love, to look out those windows of hope, and to fortify our faith in the God who holds us in the palm of His hand.

Facing Fear with Faith

When we look at the story of Daniel, we see a man who was thrown into a den of lions. This was not a metaphorical den, but a literal one, filled with real, hungry lions. Imagine the fear that must have gripped him as he was lowered into that den, the darkness enveloping him, the growls of the lions echoing in his ears. Yet, Daniel did not let his fear overcome him. Instead, he chose to trust in God. He chose to believe that God would protect him, even in the face of such terrifying circumstances.

This is a powerful lesson for us. We all face our own "lions" in life. These may not be literal lions, but they can be just as terrifying. It could be a difficult situation at work, a challenging relationship, a health crisis, or any number of other things. These "lions" can fill us with fear, causing us to feel overwhelmed and helpless. But just like Daniel, we have a choice. We can let our fear consume us, or we can choose to trust in God.

When we choose to trust in God, we are not denying the reality of our fear. We are not pretending that everything is fine when it's not. What we are doing is acknowledging our fear, but choosing to place our trust in God anyway. We are choosing to believe that God is bigger than our fear, that He is more powerful than any "lion" we may face.

Trusting in God in the face of fear is not a passive act. It is not simply sitting back and hoping that everything will work out. It is an active choice to believe in God's promises, to rely on His strength, and to hold onto His love, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart.

In the book of Isaiah, we read that no weapon formed against us will prosper. This is a promise from God. It doesn't mean that we won't face weapons, that we won't face challenges or difficulties. What it means is that these weapons, these challenges, will not ultimately defeat us. They will not have the final say in our lives. God will.

When we trust in God, we are choosing to believe in this promise. We are choosing to believe that no matter what we face, God is with us. He is our protector, our defender, our strength. He is the one who can shut the mouths of the lions, who can thwart the plans of the enemy, who can turn our fear into faith.

In the book of Job, we read that God thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. This is another promise from God. It reminds us that God is in control, that He is sovereign over all things. Even when it seems like the enemy is winning, even when it seems like our fears are coming true, God is still in control. He is still working, still moving, still acting on our behalf.

When we trust in God, we are choosing to believe in this promise as well. We are choosing to believe that God is in control, even when everything seems out of control. We are choosing to believe that God is working, even when we can't see it. We are choosing to believe that God is for us, even when it feels like everything is against us.

So, what does it look like to face fear with faith? It looks like Daniel in the lions' den. It looks like choosing to trust in God, even when we're scared. It looks like believing in God's promises, even when we're doubting. It looks like holding onto God's love, even when we're hurting. It looks like standing firm in God's truth, even when we're trembling.

Facing fear with faith is not easy. It's not a quick fix or a simple solution. It's a daily choice, a constant battle, a lifelong journey. But it's a journey worth taking, because it's a journey that leads us closer to God. And in the end, that's the only place we really want to be.

Finding Strength in Scripture

In the midst of life's trials and tribulations, we often find ourselves seeking refuge and strength ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO