Overcoming the Fear of Missing God and Healing Spiritual Paralysis

Fear in a negative sense, is a painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil or the apprehension of impending danger. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil that could befall us. Other more extreme forms of fear include dread, terror, or fright. This type of fear does not originate from God, as His word says He has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

The right fear we should have is the fear of the Lord, which is a reverence, awe, and respect for who He is and His attributes. When God warns us or gives us instructions, he is not trying to scare us or bring uneasiness to us. He brings us an urgency that will mobilize us into action, because He is serious about His word and His purpose for our life.

When Noah was told to build the ark, which would save his family and be the start of a new earth, the Word says he moved with reverential fear of the Lord and faith.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Hebrews 11:7

Noah had never seen rain, but He believed what God said and got to work.

Abraham was told to leave all he knew to go to a place he had never been and was not told exactly how to get there or when all the things God told him would come to pass.

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4

The word says, “So Abraham went.” Abraham didn’t go back and forth with God; He followed the leading of the Lord and moved out on His word.

What has God asked of you or warned you about? How have you responded?

If you are a more apprehensive individual the first thing we may do is question the word to make sure we heard correctly. Apprehensive individuals tend to need more reassurance and confirmation because of their own insecurities and fears. Even Mary asked how the word concerning her would happen because it wasn’t something naturally possible (Luke 1:34). She believed the word; she just was concerned. The angel kindly responded that it will be done by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35). Again, not specific, but enough for Mary to be settled.

We have to make sure our own fears don’t get in the way of what God wants to do in our lives. How many times does He have to prove Himself to us or confirm His word for us to move on it? After so many times, you could totally lose momentum and become paralyzed.

If you have fear of missing God, you have to understand that God is more concerned about your heart response more than you making mistakes. If you never try, how will you know anyway? We have to be willing and courageous enough to trust that God will work all the kinks out and get us to where He is taking us. We must be less concerned with what people will think of us and more concerned with obeying God.

I struggle with perfectionism and want to make sure I act wisely in all my decisions, which is not bad, but I must leave room for faith and trust in our invisible God. The spiritual realm is unseen and is supernatural. So, we have to start moving in supernatural faith and boldness to see God’s word come to pass.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen!

There is a place, people, and position God has already gone before you and secured for you, but He needs you to be listening into His navigation system. This navigation system is God’s Positioning System (GPS). God is imparting hope into you now so that you will be mobilized for the journey ahead.

In the going you will get the answer. In the moving out, you will see the waters begin to part.