Moving Past Fears, Failures, and Flaws

I have recently become more involved in the women's ministry at my church, LifePoint. We have monthly women's ministry events called Sisterhood Gatherings and for these last couple of months, they have been focused on living our "such a time as this" moments bravely and boldly. In September we took a closer look at the story of Esther and the different seasons or times she traveled before getting to her famous "such a time as this" moment (Hear that message here). We were asked to search our hearts to identify the thing that is holding us back and for many women it was fear. This fear isn't phobia kind of fears, although those can be quite scary, but the fear that keeps us awake at night, the fear that stops us from taking that next step or making changes in our lives.

Then this past Friday, a good friend brought a message of what next steps to overcoming our fears might look like and it really resonated with me. For many years I have tried, sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully, to live out of this personal mantra: "Everything can be changed by attitude and perspective." This mantra is super easy to remember but difficult to live. However, it poses two important questions:

Where do you need an attitude adjustment?

Where might you need a perspective change?

As humans, we are flawed and broken but God wants us to bring release these areas of inadequacy and ask the Holy Spirit to fill those places in order to make us whole. It isn't your flaws, failures or fears that are truly holding you back but a false belief that God isn't big enough to overcome those things. But the truth is you can step into your own “such a time as this” because:

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

So do not fear, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you... Isaiah 41:10

I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

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