Is it biblical to be yourself? What about the call to be holy— are these ideas in conflict or can they work in harmony? Let’s explore it!

"You be you" is Satan's counterfeit to God's, "Be holy as I am holy." I don't want to be me. God had to save me from me! I stand with the Apostle Paul who said, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

I saw this recently on a social media post. While it includes words from scripture, and therefore contains some truth, I believe the overall message also presents a false dichotomy.

In the parable of the talents, the master knew this servant wasn’t confident or super skilled. But he was giving him a chance to grow beyond those limits. The Lord knows our weaknesses and limitations, and he isn’t angry at us for having them.

I know that it is about more than lip service or emotions–biblical faith is trust in action. Sometimes, in order to move, it’s not enough to have something to avoid. This is especially true in regard to fear, since drawing inward is what unhealthy fear causes us to do. In order to make progress, we need to know what we are pursuing that is worth stepping out of our fear.

I decided to address this topic because I, like many people, have long believed that my fear was saving me from something that would cost me too much. What I didn’t understand for much of my adult life was that my fear, itself, was costing me, too. And often the value of what fear kept from me was greater than whatever it seemed to preserve for me. In other words, by living as though safety were my greatest value, I forfeited things that were of even greater value! 

RESOURCES MENTIONED/ SUGGESTED READING & LISTENING:

How to Create a Fearless Marriage (Blog post by John Diffenderfer) 

https://www.johndiff.com/content/how-to-create-a-fearless-marriage 

While this post is focused on the context of marriage, I recommend it to everyone because what John shares can be applied to fear in nearly any context, especially in regard to relationships. He offers a way to unravel and dismantle irrational fear that is very similar to how I got past my own fear of having another baby. 

Why Are You Afraid? Just Thinking Podcast Episode (2 hr, 50 min)

Youtube: https://youtu.be/DNd-nO85Xrg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2730KQGAHK7BpFAzz5rMs8?si=61c0d90c8a594989 

I listened to this while on a family vacation, during which my husband fell ill, and I had to take the rental vehicle out in an unfamiliar area to find things to do with the kids so he could rest. In the past that would have frazzled me a ton, but I can praise the Lord for how he met me and the growth that I can see in myself. It stretched my comfort zone a bit, but I was also able to choose an attitude of adventure and enjoy our time together, trusting the Lord to care for all of us.

Book: The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker (video link is a quick summary) 

I was given this book (as a gift!) by a friend who works in law enforcement. For those who care to know, this is NOT a christian book, but I found it very insightful and encouraging. If you feel that you are a fearful person and don’t see yourself as very capable of handling scary situations, please get your hands on this book. Do not continue to avoid thinking about what could happen in order to maintain false peace. 

https://youtu.be/zC0LX8fgY6k

God’s word was given to us for our good. When we follow his way, we find life— and, though we face challenges, it’s a good life! He calls us to believe, gives us incorruptible hope, and empowers us to overcome and endure, by his grace.

I’m here to explore the things that hamper our spiritual integrity as followers of Yeshua. I believe we can expect fruitful answers in our pursuit of truth. We are here for such a time as this, and time is short! Are you ready to grow brighter and bolder, together? Let’s go!

In this introduction, I’m sharing the thoughts and intentions in my heart as I launch this podcast. I don’t know what this will become as my blog and podcast take shape; this is simply my starting point.

Thank you to all who take time to listen! I welcome respectful listener feedback and wisdom from fellow podcasters. Send a message through Anchor or on Telegram @ajmcreativeblog.

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