Charge!

Almost eleven years ago, I was considering doing something totally outrageous and unthinkable and frightening. On an income of nearly zero, I was considering pinching all my pennies for as long as necessary, and spending all my money on a visit to a friend I’d never met, in Australia.

At the time, I was nearly paralyzed by what-ifs, is this really the right thing to do, and innumerable questions and fears.

Wouldn’t you know it, God has an answer for everything. His answer, that time, was, more or less, “I know already what you’re going to do, so be not dismayed.” Being human, my response was, more or less, that’s great that You know, but it would be handy if You’d tell me.

So I went, and had a great time.

Lately, that phrase has been running through my mind a lot again, so, for the first time, I looked in the dictionary to see what “dismay” means. Before I tell you what I found, however, I want to point out that the Hebrew word translated “dismay” has a meaning similar to the modern English word. And I’ll also mention that the Lord strictly commanded His people to not be dismayed. Before Joshua took Israel into Canaan, he was forbidden to be dismayed. Before Jeremiah faced a bunch of powerful men with verbal correction, he was told to not be dismayed. What’s more, if Jeremiah allowed the men to make him dismayed, the Lord promised that he would be openly humiliated right where those men could see it. Good incentive to not be dismayed, hey?

Wanna know what we’re talking about, exactly?

It’s to be disabled by alarm (unable to do what you need to do, because of some frightening thing). To be depressed in mind or mood (ah, we say, but I can’t help it!). It means being cowed or intimidated, or, in general, timid. To be overwhelmed or confounded by sudden fear. And how about this: to expect bad. To be deprived of courage, spirit, or initiative.

We have God’s command to not be any of the above. So what are we to be?

Able to do whatever we need to do. Elated in mind and mood. Bold. Expecting good. We are to be full of courage, spirit, and initiative.

So I’ll ask you this. When you believe the Lord is telling you to do something, what is your response? Are you disabled by the newness of it? Do you immediately have expectations that it won’t work out, or that people will respond badly, or that you won’t manage it right?

You will never obey God in any other area, if you disobey Him by being dismayed. Your life will be hard, because confusion and dismay go together, and they’ll make you miserable.

Lift up your head. The Lord, who makes everything work out for good, is by your side wherever you go. Grin. Chuckle.

And when He calls you out of the boat, do some water walking.

Thank you!

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