Fear Not!

Sometimes in life it's hard to make decisions.  Do we build a house? How do we spend our money? When do we have kids? Do we have more kids? Do we change jobs or careers?  When do we get married?...you know, all those BIG decisions that some people seem to make so easily.  In our home, decisions are met with the the questions, Is it God's will for us?  The question is easy to ask.  The answer is what seems to be hard to conclude.  What I've been noticing lately is that big decisions seems to bring a sense of fear to me.  Fear of making the wrong decision and so then, I just avoid, or over think it to the point of just not making a decision at all and staying where I'm safe, or think I'm safe.  The problem with this is that I'm not moving by faith but rather being controlled by fear! 
This made me think of when angels of the Lord appeared in the Bible, they would often say, "Fear not"or something along those lines.  These angels were messengers from God, bright and shining with all of God's glory.  Those they were appearing to where often described as trembling, or terrified.  But the angels were saying, fear not....fear not God's glory, fear not what He has sent me to tell you, fear not what is about to happen to you, fear not walking the path that God has set before you.  When an angel came to Mary to tell her she would bear a son who would save world, she had faith in God's plan to use her.  Surely she was fearful of how she would be looked at, and of what was happening to her but she was reminded to not fear. 
While we may not have angels appearing before us telling us what to do and what is going to happen to us, we still have God nudging us, placing burdens on our hearts, and the pieces of our life puzzles seemingly falling into place with what seems like little effort from us.  That's when it is clear that our faith is moving us in the right direction and that our decisions have been made according to His will.
The decisions I make are about more than me.  It's about moving by faith and not being made stagnant by fear, and being an example of this to those around me. 

Luke 1: 30-33  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 2:9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.