Transforming Fears into Boldness

Read Philippians 1:12-14

What are you afraid of?  Rejection?  Other people's opinions of you?  Loss of a job, of relationships, or possibly of health?  Maybe suffering or even death itself?

Here in the book of Philippians we get a sneak peak into what would be anyone's worst nightmare.

Paul has been captured, dragged away, put behind bars and now sits helplessly in prison.
His mission seems to have come to an abrupt halt.
He has no clue how cruelly he may be tortured or tormented.
He doesn't know if he will ever get out.
He does not even know what his next meal will be.
The poor conditions in the prison may result in weakness, sickness or even eventual death.

All seemed lost!

Yet Paul takes a different perspective.  He views his circumstances through the lens of knowing his loving and Almighty God, that He is good, and that He must be up to something.

He says, "I want to you know that what has happened to me has really served to advance" the good news of the saving Gospel message  of Jesus Christ.

And the result?  Others were also encouraged to allow God to transform their fears and it gave them the courage to speak MORE BOLDLY!

We are not always called to just speak the message, sometimes God calls us to BE the MESSAGE! When we change our perspective, we can be a beacon of hope to embolden the faith of others.

How about you?  How can you take a different perspective of your past or current circumstances?

Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as to what God is up to in your life, and how He will use these times to advance His message in new ways to those your life touches.