Fearless Faith

"He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine."

- 1 Samuel 17:40

These past four years that I’ve been on my walk with God, has definitely had its fair share of ups and downs. Not because of God, no, He is forever faithful. More so, because of me. I have allowed fear to hold me hostage for a very long time. Sucking all life and peace out of me like a high powered vacuum cleaner. My childhood was riddled with traumatic experiences, that bled into my teen years and also into my twenties. My whole life had been a constant movie reel of trauma and it had caused some massive wounds inside my mind and heart. And the results of that was a completely and utterly broken child stuck inside a woman’s body that could not trust the world, let alone trust God. I had no faith what so ever.

I can’t say that I ever really had faith to begin with, before I surrendered to Christ. I lived in constant fear, always expecting the worst to happen in every situation, even when things were good. I became very cynical and pessimistic towards everything and everyone and it was the most lonely I had ever felt in my life. I was afraid of the world and everyone in it, and if I’m being open and honest, I thought God had abandoned me a long time ago, because I could never be perfect. So I don’t believe I trusted Him either. Faith was non-existent. Thinking back to that timeline of history in my life it, it just makes me cry. I remember the darkness, the cloud that constantly hung over me every step I took. I wasn’t living, I was suffocating in this never ending toxic cycle of spiritual death.

Fear became my best friend, I thought it kept me safe, I thought it kept me from more harm being inflicted upon my heart and mind. I found comfort in fear, as weird as that may sound, that was my safe space. I could never see a future or a purpose for my life, I felt so incredibly dead inside and I accepted that that’s all it would ever be for me. Until the worst tragedy I could’ve ever imagined struck. My fiancé was shot to death in front of me. I don’t even think devastated would be the right word to use, nor do I think shattered would suffice. I can’t tell you what that did to me or how much it broke me, I don’t believe there’s even a word in the dictionary for it. But what I can tell you is, that tragedy super-charged the fear that already had roots inside of me, and shot it out to the universe.

Fear became my identity and ruled every aspect of my life. I was afraid to go outside, afraid of going to the grocery store, afraid of every noise and creak inside my house. I was so full of fear that I was even too afraid to be around my family. It was lonely and so dark. I truly believed that it would never end, until God showed mercy and compassion for me the night I cried out to Him. He gave me a hope and a peace I never felt before. I felt safe for the first time in my life. It has been 4 long years now since that night, and God has shown and proved to me in more ways than one that I can trust Him, and that faith is possible through Him because He has already gone ahead of me and claimed the victory.

The reason this verse spoke to me, is because I desire to have such fearless faith as David did. David charged across the valley towards Goliath who was a 9 foot tall giant who was a heavily armored, well seasoned warrior. And David was just a small Shepard boy with 5 stones and a slingshot with no training in war. But here’s the thing, it wasn’t his slingshot, nor the pebbles that took Goliath down, it was the power of God that lived inside of Him, God that went before Him and already claimed the victory. David’s strong faith in God made Him fearless, because David knew that “greater is He who lives within you, than he that is in the world.”(1 John 4:4) David had fearless faith. He didn’t shy away, or cower down in fear, he charged across the valley towards Goliath, while the best of the kings soldiers stayed behind afraid for their lives. "And as Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his Shepard bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit Goliath in the forehead."(1 Samuel 17:48-49) And Goliath was defeated!

That is the fearless faith I desire so deep within my heart to have. The kind of faith in God that sends me running across the valley with only some pebbles and a slingshot, towards every giant that stands before me. Towards every giant that has held me captive all my life. Knowing without a doubt that God already has the victory, and that He has already gone before me. I have faith right now, in this moment that God knows my desire for fearless faith, and I also believe God will get me there. All I have to do is trust Him. And be willing.

If you struggle with fear, and it has had its hands around your neck for a long time, holding you captive and preventing you from facing the giants in front of you. I hear you, I understand you, God hears you, He understands you. But more importantly, He has already gone before you claiming victory over them ALL! So today, run across the valley with fearless faith like David did. And allow God to take down that massive giant standing in front of you, giving you the victory!

Blessings,

-Chelsey

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for your victory! Thank you for going before us, living within us, and fighting these battles for us. Thank you for your love and mercy Father that you bestow upon us daily. Father today I ask that you bless whoever is reading this right now with the courage and fearless faith that David had. That you show them that you have gone before them and claimed the victory over every giant they face. Father, instill in them a desire of freedom from fear, and teach them every single day that they can trust you. Heal every wound they carry, and pick up the pieces of their broken heart. Heal their minds Father and renew them with your hope. Thank you Father for everything you have done and continue to do for us, thank you for your unfailing love towards us all. You are a good good Father and you keep safe all who call upon you. We praise you Father all the days of our lives. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen

God did it for David and He WILL do it for you!