EP 106: Fix Your Gaze on Jesus: How to Stop Sinking in Fear & Doubt | In Totality with Megan Ashley
Digest
This podcast episode explores the concept of God calling individuals to daunting tasks, emphasizing that fear is a natural human emotion but should not dictate actions. The discussion highlights that faith in Christ doesn't eliminate fear but allows obedience to prevail. It stresses the importance of fixing one's gaze on Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit's power, and understanding that God's ultimate goal is His glory, achieved through our obedience. The episode uses biblical examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate how consistent obedience builds trust in God, leading to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him. It encourages listeners to embrace daily obedience, even when faced with insecurity or past failures, reminding them that God's faithfulness ensures He will see them through.
Outlines
Introduction and Invitation to "The Village"
The speaker welcomes listeners and invites them to join "The Village," an exclusive Patreon community offering early access, exclusive content, and community events like Bible studies and book clubs.
Navigating Fear and Embracing Obedience
The episode delves into how God often calls people to challenging tasks that evoke fear. While acknowledging the presence of fear, the focus shifts to faith, love, power, and a sound mind provided by the Holy Spirit, enabling obedience over succumbing to fear.
Personal Reflections on Creativity and Growth
The host shares personal reflections on a recent concert, including behind-the-scenes insights into choreography and the insecurities faced by the artists, highlighting Jordan's growth from past hesitation to confidently choreographing.
God's Call to Scary Things and Spiritual Stretching
The core message is that God frequently calls individuals to step beyond their comfort zones, necessitating a reliance on Him. This process is described as "spiritual stretching," where obedience leads to unexpected challenges that foster growth and deeper dependence on God.
Building Trust Through Consistent Obedience
The podcast emphasizes that consistent obedience, even in small matters, is crucial for building trust in God. This practice makes individuals more responsive to future calls to action, as God proves His faithfulness in guiding them through difficulties.
God's Unwavering Faithfulness Throughout Scripture
Biblical examples like Noah, Ezekiel, and Moses are used to illustrate God's consistent faithfulness. This reinforces the assurance that God will support and bring believers through whatever He calls them to do.
Megan's Journey to Theology School and Trusting God
Megan shares her personal journey of pursuing a Master's in Theology despite lacking a traditional college background, detailing the insecurities and anxieties she navigated during the application process and learning to trust God's plan.
The Power of Focusing on Jesus: Peter's Walk on Water
The story of Peter walking on water serves as a powerful illustration of maintaining focus on Jesus amidst fear and doubt. The analogy of a car's windshield versus rearview mirror highlights the importance of "gazing" at God rather than "glancing" at distractions.
Obedience, God's Glory, and Overcoming Doubt
The Christian life inevitably involves difficult tasks, and obedience in the face of fear is paramount for God's glory and our conformity to Christ. Fear is reframed as an opportunity for faith, and doubt is overcome by remembering God's promises and His faithfulness.
Seizing Opportunities for Trust and the Consequences of Disobedience
God presents daily opportunities to trust Him, and seizing these builds faith. An anecdote about a near-fire incident underscores the importance of heeding the Holy Spirit's guidance, reinforcing that obedience is our role, and the outcome is God's.
God Seeks Obedience, Not Perfection; Embracing Today's "Yes"
The primary focus is on our obedience, not perfection. The message encourages listeners to embrace the present opportunity to say "yes" to God, rather than being discouraged by past failures, as God handles the outcomes.
Fear as an Emotion, Not an Identity; Journal Prompt and Closing
Fear is identified as a manageable emotion, not a defining characteristic, thanks to the Holy Spirit's power. A journal prompt encourages self-reflection on hesitations, and the episode concludes with a call to action and well wishes.
Keywords
Obedience in Spite of Fear
Following God's commands even when experiencing fear or insecurity, emphasizing faith and trust in God's faithfulness.
Fixing Your Gaze on Jesus
Maintaining focus on Jesus Christ as the ultimate goal and source of strength, rather than on distractions like personal insecurities or circumstances.
The Village (Patreon Community)
An exclusive online community offering early access, exclusive content, and community events for spiritual growth and mutual support.
Spirit of Fear vs. Spirit of Love, Power, and Sound Mind
Distinguishing between human fear and the divine spirit believers receive, which provides love, power, and a sound mind to overcome fear.
Dependency on the Holy Spirit
Relying on the constant presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit for strength, wisdom, and empowerment in all aspects of life.
Spiritual Stretching
The process by which God challenges individuals beyond their comfort zones to foster spiritual growth and deeper reliance on Him.
Covenant Keeping God
God's faithfulness to His promises and agreements, assuring believers that God will remain true to His word and see them through challenges.
Faith as the Foundation of Christian Life
The belief that faith is essential for pleasing God, driving obedience, and overcoming doubt and fear.
Glancing vs. Gazing
An analogy highlighting the importance of focusing steadily on God ("gazing") rather than being sidetracked by distractions ("glancing").
God's Glory and Our Obedience
The understanding that God's ultimate goal is His glory, achieved through our obedience, which is the means to fulfill His plans.
Q&A
How does the podcast address the common human emotion of fear when God calls us to do difficult things?
The podcast explains that while God doesn't give us a spirit of fear, the human emotion of fear is still present. The key is not to let fear rule but to focus on faith and trust in God's faithfulness, recognizing that obedience is more important than the feeling of fear.
What is the significance of "fixing your gaze on Jesus" in the context of overcoming fear and doubt?
Fixing your gaze on Jesus means keeping your focus on Him as the founder and perfecter of your faith, rather than on your insecurities, fears, or the circumstances around you. This unwavering focus provides the strength and endurance needed to navigate challenges and remain obedient.
How can one build trust in God, especially when struggling with doubt?
Trust in God is built by actively choosing to obey Him, even in small matters. Each act of obedience, when God presents an opportunity to trust Him, reinforces His faithfulness and strengthens our confidence in Him, helping to overcome doubt.
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers overcome fear and obey God?
The Holy Spirit provides believers with a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind, enabling them to act in obedience despite experiencing fear. Relying on the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance is crucial, as attempting tasks independently without His help can lead to failure.
How does the podcast differentiate between "glancing" and "gazing" in a spiritual context?
"Glancing" refers to briefly looking at distractions like past failures or insecurities, similar to a small rearview mirror. "Gazing" means maintaining a steady focus on God, like looking through a large windshield, which is essential for endurance and spiritual progress.
What is the ultimate purpose behind God calling us to do scary or difficult things?
God calls us to scary things primarily for His glory and our obedience. These experiences also serve to conform us into the image of His son, producing faithfulness, endurance, humility, and spiritual maturity in us.
How does the podcast encourage listeners who feel inadequate or insecure about a calling from God?
The podcast reassures listeners that God's grace is sufficient, and He will be with them through every step. Inadequacy and insecurity are seen as opportunities to depend on God, and obedience, not perfection, is what He seeks.
What practical advice is given for driving out doubt and strengthening faith?
Doubt is combatted by remembering God's promises in His word, meditating on them more than on the fear, and recalling His past faithfulness. Actively choosing to trust God in opportunities He presents also builds faith.
Show Notes
This week, I'm reflecting with the team on my experience witnessing Jackie and Jordan practice obedience during the Blameless concert weekend that took place in February. We're talking about what it means to fix our gaze on Jesus when fear, doubt, and uncertainty can cause a hesitation to obey.
In Matthew 14, we see Peter walk on water only while his eyes are fixed on Jesus, but the moment he focuses on the wind and the waves, he begins to sink. And honestly, it's the same way for so many of us when it comes to trusting God. But Jesus is so kind. When Peter began to sink, he called out to Jesus, and Jesus reached for him. And He does the same for us.
Join the conversation as we explore what it looks like to trust God in the midst of fear. We discuss the tension of wanting to believe the Lord is faithful while battling uncertainty, and how faith is often not the absence of fear, but the practice of fixing our gaze on God in everything we do, until we see our complete assignment through to the end.
This episode is for anyone who feels like they’ve been sinking under the weight of anxiety, doubt, or fear and it's keeping you from saying Yes to the Lord.
I pray this reminds you that He is not distant in our struggle. He is near, steady, and faithful.
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