Consider: “Fear and Faith”

Published on by Kim
Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves by Trillia J. Newbell is both saturated with gospel truths and practical on a daily life level. We all know fear and how powerful it is. Newbell walks through several common fears with encouragements for answering those fears with faith. Two excerpts are below for your evaluation.
 
 
There is safety in God. You and I think we have to be in control of how we are viewed or of what others think, but God says no, we are safe. We think we need to worry about the harm others could inflict, physical or otherwise, so we withhold speaking about Jesus; but God says no, we are safe. The fear of man leads us into a trap, like a caged animal, but the fear of the Lord leads us into the arms of a safe Father. (Kindle 18%)
 
 

If you fear you won’t measure up because there’s just so much that needs to be done and you simply can’t do it all, leaving you feeling guilty and depleted, some of the best news you and I can hear is that we actually cannot do it all. The problem with guilt is that it condemns us and leaves us weary and without hope. Guilt says that the finished work on the cross was not enough, so we must bear our burden alone. (Kindle 38%)

These books are set here as possibilities for you to explore. Posts and links are not blanket endorsements or paid publicity.

The Best Encouragement

Published on by Kim

While reading Trillia Newbell’s Fear and Faith recently, I was struck by her reminder about how important it is to encourage each other and how we can do that well.

Encouragement points out the ways God is moving in the lives of others. Thus encouragement points others toward God.

Sometimes we are encouraged in a way that puts more pressure on us. If I did it well once, I must continue doing it perfectly from now on. People are watching! Right?

What if we encourage each other by pointing out what God has done (and is doing) in the lives of our sisters and brothers in Christ?

Referring to Romans 15:7, Newbell writes:

Now imagine if we had this mentality in us as we relate to our sisters in Christ. Imagine if we banded together with one voice proclaiming that Christ is enough and then proclaiming to our sisters the same—“Christ is enough!” Wow! How powerful that would be. I want you to know that Christ is enough. Those familiar verses and words about the Lord’s rejoicing over you aren’t to make you feel better. They are the truth.

In this way, we can rejoice together in the loving, gracious work of our Father. He is at work in the hearts and lives of his children, and that is greatly motivating!  When our eyes are together on Him, we will be well. We have confidence in His work when ours is, shall we say, completely inadequate. We can mutually benefit by seeing past grace in each other’s life, which will keep our eyes confidently looking for the grace to come.

We must aim to glorify the Lord in all we do and rest in the Savior, who doesn’t place on us pressures for perfection.

“I see God working in your life. Hallelujah! It will be beautiful to see Him continue that work as you continue to rest in Him.”