The Bible speaks in so many places about being courageous and even bold. However, I often find myself being nervous about doing God’s work or being unsure in what I know He is telling me. So why is it that even when we know what God wants us to do, do we still have doubt and anxiety? For me, I think a lot of it falls back to a need for conformity and how others will think I have failed. How often do we think:
“People must think I look crazy.”
“If this doesn’t work out, I’m going to look stupid.”
These thoughts can be so strong that sometimes I keep my witness or God’s plans to myself. Sometimes I miss the opportunity to receive His blessings, because I am worried about conforming to the norm. This isn’t how we are meant to function as Christians.

In Ephesians 6:19-20 it says, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Paul tells us that the way we should spread God’s word is boldly, not sheepishly and not with humility. So how do we combat the fear of being wrong or how we look? Something that God has been working with me on lately is that it isn’t about me. In Luke 9:23-24 it says, “And he said to them all, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Christ instructs His disciples that to truly follow Him, it can’t be about us. It’s not about what we want. It’s not about our goals or our aspirations. It is about what He wants us to do. So to me the first thing I have to do in order to walk boldly in Christ is get rid of the ‘I.’
‘I’ want this.
‘I’ did this.
Recognize ‘me’ for this.

This has been a very difficult thing for me to do. As I have worked on removing the ‘I’ from my life, it has been hard to know who I am. I have found that in a lot of areas of my life I am motivated by my ambitions and how I am perceived. As I have let go of some of this, at times, I feel like a drifting boat with no anchor. I believe that this is part of the process, though. As I become less, this leaves room for Him to become more (John 3:30). When we remove our self-will and selfishness, then we can be filled with His will and spirit.

My new anchor becomes walking in the love, joy, and peace of doing His work and not in defining myself by my accomplishments or talents. Getting rid of our self-will will make us more bold in Him. No longer do I have to make things work, but now I know that He is the one guiding me.

In Psalm 37:23-24 it says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” This scripture clearly shows that He guides what we do. How can I be fearful of failure or how others see me if He is the one guiding me?

So here is my new commitment:
As long as God is guiding me, and I am not working in my own selfishness, I will confidently walk in His plan. I don’t want to walk in fear of how others see me or fear of failing.
It isn’t my plan; it is His.
It isn’t my life; it is His.
No longer do I want to be seen for my success. Now I want others to see my confidence in His friendship and love in my life.

Psalm 25:1-3 says, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: Let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: Let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”

– Written by Jeremiah

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