My Fear of FORO
If you’re joining me here today from Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today, welcome! I’m so glad you’ve joined me! If you’d like to read the full devotion, “Do it Scared“, just click here!
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I mentally weigh what “serving God” will cost me. (I put serving God in quotes, because isn’t everything I do to be done for Him?)
If I’m asked to volunteer for an extra event at church or additional service, my mind thinks, “That will be an additional 3 hours of my weekend. What about the rest I need?”
If I’m asked to give of my talents to teach or write as a gift to a ministry, I may consider how much time this commitment will cost me.
I’m sorry to say, I usually go to the worst-case scenario when it comes to these very small sacrifices. I am realizing now, even as I write, this wrongful attitude comes from faulty thinking.
You’ve heard of FOMO – the fear of missing out. This is different. I recently heard Steven Furtick call it: FORO – fear of running out. It seems as I grow older, my energy supply is not what it used to be. I want to hold on tight to my time, and thus my energy, for fear of it running out.
In today’s Encouragement for today I shared:
“Shiphrah and Puah chose to fear God over fearing Pharaoh. Do it scared became their motto. God would come through just as Hebrews 6:10 says: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
The midwives chose to be courageous not because they were fearless. They chose to be brave because their love for their God was stronger than their fear of a human. God’s love for them empowered them and helped them move forward.
As my relationship with the Lord developed and my love for Him deepened, my desire to please Him changed from a negative type of fear into a healthy fear. That’s what love does; it pushes out fear and develops in us Christ-confidence.”
There is a new type of Christ-confidence that I am asking for the Lord to develop in me. It’s the confidence that He will be enough. I believe it is a confidence that Shiphrah and Puah needed as well. That should Pharoah’s anger over their disobedience lead to consequences that were pain-filled, even then and even there, God already is.
1 John 4:18 tells us: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (NIV)
Do you ever struggle with FORO – fear of running out? Running out of the answers for raising your kids? Running out of the courage to do the right thing as you continually face difficult circumstances?
Let’s fuel our faith with the faith of the midwives of Exodus today. Whatever lies ahead, God is already there and He is and will be enough.
What’s one thing you fear “running out of”? Time? Energy? Love? Patience?
Let’s share our answers, prayer requests, or a scripture that encourages us as God helps us trust Him and find in Him the confidence we need to do the things He is calling us to do!
Be sure to stop by my Instagram today where I’m giving away a set of confidence-building books, for women of every age:
Make Your Move: Finding Unshakable Confidence Despite Your Fears and Failures – a Bible study for women
His Revolutionary Love: Jesus’ Radical Pursuit of You – for girls ages 12 – 19
Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You – for girls ages 8 – 12
For a chance to win, I’ll see you there! Just click here!