Fear is a powerful thing. It causes us to be afraid to go places and do things that we are being called to do. Sometimes, it even overcomes our faith and our risk appetite and causes us to do nothing and stand idly as the world passes us by.
But when he heard that Achelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.
Matthew 2:22 ESV
In this situation, Joseph was called to go back to Israel with Jesus and Mary. But he was afraid. I think that Joseph was called to go directly to Jerusalem with Jesus and Mary, to the heart of Israel. It’s interesting wording here though, Joseph’s fear caused him to withdraw to Galilee. Meaning, he wasn’t supposed to go Galilee, but based on his fear, the plan changed. God should have known that though. He is omnipotent and omniscient.
But maybe it was God’s plan after all because the next verse does say that Joseph went to Nazareth to fulfill prophecy. So that begs the question, how is God using our fear when we’re afraid to go there? Because clearly being afraid doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t act and do nothing. Rather, being afraid causes us to do something and it is where we are and in our doing “something” that we find the opportune ministry that was allotted for us.
Let’s not be afraid to go there.
I want to hear about how God used your fears to take you places you never imagined.
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