Proverbs 28:1 says…the righteous are bold as a lion.  And intimidation can be conquered with boldness!  Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us (Romans 8:37).  We have to stop allowing ourselves to be intimidated by the devil.  It is a choice that we have to make.  It often takes every ounce of courage and strength we can muster, but we must be willing to step out even if we’re afraid!

When I felt strongly that God was leading me to leave my home and family in Michigan and go to Bible School in Oklahoma, I quickly developed a bad case of the “what ifs,” – a classic fruit of the spirit of fear and intimidation.  I loved my home church, and immediately – like a recording constantly playing in my mind – I started thinking, “What if I don’t like it?”  “What if I don’t do well?”  “What if I run out of money to pay for school?”  “What if I don’t meet anybody there?”  “What if I don’t make any new friends?”

No Place to Go but Up!

Sometimes those people you feel close to aren’t all that helpful when the direction of your life seems to take an abrupt turn.  When I quit my job in preparation for moving to Oklahoma to attend school, I tried to be confident.  I told people, “I have no place to go but up!”  But friends asked me how I was going to pay my bills.  They asked what I would do way out there if school was too hard?  What would I do after graduation if nobody ever invited me to preach?

Though I wasn’t aware that I was taking steps to overcome my intimidation, I decided to compile a list of my own – some “what ifs” that were positive instead of negative.  I asked myself, “What if I do great in school and get lots of invitations to speak?”  “What if God meets all of my needs – spiritual, financial, social, and emotional?”  “What if I succeed at everything I set my hand to?”

I’ve learned that most accomplishments in life come in steps or phases.  You may not be where you want to be yet, but you also aren’t where you used to be.  That’s one of the reasons it’s important to avoid comparing ourselves with one another.  We’re always going to find somebody that looks like they’re way ahead of us in the natural.  Then there will be someone else who thinks we’re way out there ahead of them.

Nothing is accomplished when we uselessly compare ourselves with one another.  We need to believe and say, “God, I’m going to do what You’ve called me to do at the pace You’ve called me to do it, and I’m not going to compare myself with anyone else.”

It takes the pressure off when we realize that God doesn’t expect us to be like everyone else.  He created us to be individuals.  If everyone were exactly the same, we certainly wouldn’t win many people to Christ.  It takes all kinds of people to minister to the wide variety of individuals God places in our paths.  Comparing yourself with others brings needless misery.  Be yourself!

Check back next month for the continuation of this teaching.
Previous articles in this series [Sept 2010]