By Chloe Grabeman
It never ceases to amaze me all the ways fear can disguise itself.
For me, fear can look a lot like a long to-do list.
Not a daily to-do list of things to get done but a personal to-do list of how to get better. All the things you have to do or be that would qualify you for the race.
The race to be happy. To be accomplished.
I have come to believe these to–do lists are written in the handwriting of the enemy. They look like they may have good things to offer, practical disciplines, maybe even true statements etched on every line.
But they are bullet points that are heavy and burdensome.
If you want a real-life example of the power of fearful to do lists, feel free to look at the last time I posted a blog.
May.
It is November people. That is 7 months! Writing has become one of my ultimate loves yet it’s been 7 months since I have really written out of the fullness of my being. The reason why?
I’ve been terrified.
Completely and utterly overtaken and controlled by fear. Fear of sounding cliché. Fear of never knowing enough. Of never being good enough and having to start over.
So, I’ve stayed silent and my to-do list continues to grow with ways to get better.
Silence is a pretty powerful side effect of fear.
A friend of mine shared with me the ways in which he finds himself silenced. Fear can have a way of looking a lot like patience.
Patience is a virtue after all, how could this possibly be a bad thing?
Looking back at the past 7 months I can see the truth of his difficulty finding the difference between patience and fear very prevalent in my life. Wanting a clear confirmation from God on the steps he has planned for me and waiting a long time to hear them, trying to make myself better in my moments of “patience.” When we start using “patience” as a reason to not take steps of faith meant to challenge and refine us, we are not living in patience, we are living in fear and perfection.
Ever need a way to discern the voice of God from the other voices swirling around in your head?
If you are left feeling heavy and burdensome. if it is not edifying, empowering, peaceful or restful I promise you that is not the voice of God and not the voice you should be listening to. Nothing reveals more about the voice and the nature of God than Matt. 11:28. I know I have probably written about it before but there is honestly never a moment in my life when I don’t need to hear it. It says:
“Come to me, all who weary and heavy burdened. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
It doesn’t say “learn this skill” or “check more off your list.” He just says “come to me and I will give you rest.”
When you give up on the to-do list and find rest from the heavy burdens of perfection it places on you, you can start discerning the truth from the lies by learning His voice.
He has a very particular role that only you can play in this life.
Don’t let the lies keep you from embracing it.
Song List:
Yes – Joseph Holm
Hills and Valleys – Tauren Wells
Come to the River – Housefires
Out of Exile – Strahan
Check them out on the Real and True Playlist on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/128815512/playlist/3YfqgeMjEUj7ZB8ydKd5qL