And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
What do you do when you are afraid? Fear often moves us away from doing something instead of toward it. We experience human instincts of fight or flight. Repeatedly God speaks about fear in His Word. God often begins with “Do not be afraid!” because He knows our nature. He knows how motivated we are by fear, how it cripples us, and our list of excuses. In today’s verse, the fear the women experienced was one of reverent awe that motivated them toward action. But fear can just as easily move us toward inaction.
When many of us think about sharing the gospel, the first thing that hinders us is fear. Like the witnesses of the resurrection, we too have heard that Jesus is alive. We can acknowledge that this is amazing news and believe this news changes our lives, but we still may hesitate to share because we’re afraid. When fear arises, we can bring it before God and be honest with Him. Like the apostles throughout the book of Acts, we can pray for boldness to share that does not come naturally to us. God will equip us by His Spirit for the task He has called us to; it is not something we take on our own.
- What are some things that give you fear about sharing your faith? Who are you most afraid to share your faith with?
- How has fear affected your life and witness? How can you begin to seek to the voice of God instead?
- Pray for an opportunity to share Christ’s hope with someone and the boldness to do so clearly.
