Faith over Fear

by Kristi Williams Fontenot

As not only our country but our entire world walks through a time filled with so much uncertainty.

My prayer is that your fear turns into faith.

Daily we are waking up to life changing news as things seem to be getting worse before they are getting better. Maybe you are watching someone you know struggle with sickness or maybe you are just struggle with life itself. As we watch our country shutting down before our eyes and life truly seems to be spiraling out of our control.

Well I have some news for you… but God.

Recently, I have had many moments where my emotions were on the verge of getting the best of me. Just a few days ago my eighteen-year-old son came into the kitchen, wanting nothing more than for me just to hold him. After hearing the news that his senior year of high school baseball was being cut short, he stood there cried on my shoulder. All I could do was hold him, knowing how hard he had worked over the last four years in hopes of a college seeing him and offering him a scholarship. I couldn’t help but to feel the helplessness with him; knowing it may all be slipping through his fingertips.

Then, just days later we get the news that our governor has shut down every restaurant in the state to only drive-thru and to-go orders. We own a small mom and pop restaurant and now our livelihood is at risk of failure. Not to mention the employees that I have that rely on me to keep them working, so that they can pay their own family bills. Within a matter of days, it feels like the weight of the word was on my shoulders. 

While my struggles and fears may not be the same and yours, we are all walking through something right now. The sense of helplessness has a way of completely overtaking you. The not knowing has a way of creeping in and placing doubt and fear within you. Believe me, I totally get it! But you know what, our God is bigger than anything you or I are facing now or could possibly face tomorrow!

You see the thing is that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear. The devil does that! He wants us to worry and panic. God on the other hand never intended us to walk through life alone! He knew the challenges and hardships we would face before we would face them. Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us “The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” When I allow my faith to be bigger than my fear and my worry, I am reminded of Gods truth in His word! God has gone before me and HE IS STILL IN CONTROL!

As a matter of fact, when we change our perspective from fear to faith, we may see opportunities for God to work in us and through us. This week a customer came in that I haven’t seen in at least a few months. I spoke with him like I do nearly every customer. Everyone is curious about the virus and what that means for our business. As my guys were fixing his food, he went on to tell me he isn’t sure how much more he could take from 2020. I asked him what had happen over the last few months. He processed to tell me that he had lost his wife unexpectedly a few months ago... As we walk through life changing things together God will give us opportunities to stop and listen. God will give us opportunities to help. And most importantly, God will give us opportunities to pray. Had the virus not affected us I might not have known what my customer was walking through. But in that moment, it gave me the opportunity to stop, to listen and ultimately to pray for him. We can all spend our days looking at how fearful this virus has made our lives, or we can spend our time looking for opportunities to stop, to listen, to help and to pray for those around us.

While our days may be filled with uncertainty, I pray that you never for a moment doubt who is in control. God can and will fill you with the peace that surpasses all understanding. All l you need to do is ask and trust in Him. 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God " John 14:1