I remember in college, I was taking a physics class, and maaan did that class make me work! Thankfully I still made an A in the course, but I was always stressed out. I totally feared failing that course to the point that I was paralyzed. I wasn’t able to study, because I was freaking out; I wasn’t able to go out and chill, because I was freaking out; I couldn’t even cry, because I was just too stressed and overwhelmed.
Then, some sense came and hit me across the side of my head, and I decided to go to office hours. Instead of stressing, I went to my teacher to go over the material I didn’t understand and kept going back until the information was solidified in my mind.
It seems easier at times to circumvent the things that frighten you. But in that place of hiding, the issue that scares you not only remains present but actually grows larger and more insurmountable. This was totally my issue with my college physics class. But when I decided to look that the daunting task square in the eye and face it; I realized the class was actually manageable.
How many times have we cowered away in fear because we believed the task was too scary, the person was too intimidating, the work was too overwhelming? How many times have we missed an opportunity to receive a blessing or become a blessing to someone else because of fear? To be honest with you all, I would say its been one too many times for me.
I think about Moses, one of the great men in the Bible who was so overcome with fear. To make a long story short, Moses was a Hebrew baby whose life was threatened because a paranoid king who was scared that the Hebrew people would be too powerful and overthrow the Egyptian nation. So, Moses’s smart mom put him in a basket and placed him in a river in hopes that his chances of living would be greater than if he remained with his family.
An Egyptian princess found Moses and raised him. Later in life, Moses ended up killing an Egyptian guard who was maltreating his people, the Israelites. Moses feared his punishment for murdering a man, so he fled and became a shepherd man. Now, while herding sheep, God called out to Moses and told him to go back to Egypt to set the Israelites free from their bondage to the Egyptians. God told Moses about some pretty extravagant things he wanted to do for the Israelites.
“...and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites…a land flowing with milk and honey…and I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty”
Exodus 3:17,21
Moses was paralyzed with fear from such a task. Moses knew his limitations he was literally wanted for murder in Egypt and he stuttered pretty badly. He felt totally unqualified for the task God asked of him.
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent… but I am slow of speech and of tongue...“But behold, they [the Israelites] will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.'”
Exodus 4:10 Exodus 4:1
Thankfully, we serve an amazing God who doesn’t just leave us struggling in our fears. God helped encourage Moses by showing him that He would be with him and give him power as he faced Pharaoh.
In response to Moses saying he is not eloquent in speech:
Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth?... Now therefore go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Exodus 4:11
In response to Moses saying the people of God would not believe him:
The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand…thrown it on the ground” and it became a serpent… “put out your hand and catch it by the tail” so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand.
Exodus 4:2
The wonderful thing about our God is that even in our weakness, even in our insecurities, even in our inadequacies, He will show Himself faithful; He will show us that we are adequate; He will show us that in our weakness He is strong in us (2 Corinthians 12:10). Even when we feel like we are drowning in fear, when we are in over our head with that daunting task, God will lift us up.
Our God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. He will use the items we have with us (a simple wooden staff), a weak and stuttering tongue in a mighty way to bring deliverance to many (the entire Israelite nation).
So, when fear overwhelms you, talk to God. When you are paralyzed with anxiety, tell God your worries. He will help you through it, just like he did for Moses and the entire Israelite nation and for me in my college physics class.
Be encouraged.
Love you all.
XOXO,
Jenn
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Inspiration for the song: In Over My Head
The Song: In Over My Head By Bethel Music Ft Jenn Johnson (Btw she knows how to spell her nickname right LOLLL)
I celebrated my 28th birthday about week ago (ayyee). I had such a good time relaxing and taking time away from residency to be with friends and loved ones. I feel so blessed to see another year.
Fun Facts About Jenn Jenn
I love me some sparkling water with lemons. So if you bring me some club soda or La Croix, you and I will become very good friends :D.
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