Fear - the Obstacle in Front of Most Obstacles

On Sunday, I spoke about overcoming obstacles in life. The apostle Paul was amazing when it comes to being a victor and not a victim. You know what great things he did with his life. Did you also know of the obstacles he faced along the way? Check this out:

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, I n danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:23 – 30)



The truth is FEAR has so much to do with whether or not we overcome obstacles. I find that fear is the great paralysis that grips many people and causes shut down. As you read that passage above, imagine the fear the apostle Paul must have felt. But somehow he overcame and in doing so, was the ultimate winner for God and His Kingdom on planet earth.

What fears might have you gripped today? What obstacles could be overcome if you adequately and appropriately dealt with the fear that has you paralyzed and stuck? Often fear is the great barrier between me and my obstacle.

The truth is that all of us, at one time or another, are driven by fear. Fear is a natural response. Fear tends to creep up in us and takes us by surprise whenever we are making big plans.

However, as we mature in the Christian faith, fear actually becomes a sign to which we should always pay close attention. Self-awareness is critical. A pastor by the name of Bill Cornelius says this:

"Fear serves us in two unique ways: The first way is that fear can be a warning. Fear warns us to think things through, to make our plans well, to seek advice and advisors. This is a healthy fear that normally means you are thinking ahead to avoid typical pitfalls. Yet, for the believer, fear also serves us in a way you may not have thought about: Fear can also be a sign you area heading in the right direction. The truth is that any time we are doing something new, something daring, even adventurous, it will conjure up fear in our hearts. This fear can cause us to stop what we are doing because “it just doesn’t feel right.” The “feel right” feeling only happens when you are doing things that are familiar or come easy to you. The reality is that if you want to take new ground in your life, passing into unchartered territory will require you to “feel the fear...and do it anyway.”


As you press on and overcome obstacles, do NOT run from your fears. Instead, embrace those fears and hear the Word of God. In Acts 18, the Lord says to the apostle Paul:

”One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9 - 10)

The key part of that verse is the Lord saying, "I am with you..."

In those moments of fear, the only reality that enables to press on and overcome is the incarnational reality that our God is with us." As such, I can embrace fear, eventually overcome fear, and the obstacle staring me in the face.

May it be so in your life...