Turning Fear to FaithChikamu

Day 5: The Choice

Whether or not we admit it, you and I like to make our own choices. When asked, “Where do you want to go eat?” we may say we don’t care, but we do have an opinion. And most of the time, we prefer our choice because it gets us what we think we want.

Choices are part of God’s beautiful design for our lives, and yet so often, we let our choices lead us down a path that isn’t good for us. Sometimes our choices even take divine intervention to recover from.

With all the choices Adam and Eve were given throughout each day, their ultimate choice came down to their devotion to God Himself. He gave them the freedom, the option, to love Him or not. They were God’s creation, and He had clearly established parameters for their protection. He also communicated both the benefits and consequences of their decisions. But they had free will. Right or wrong, they could choose.

When faced with the choice between two trees, they chose the desire for “knowledge” over “life,” and the tree of life was removed from Eden and from the Earth altogether. From that moment on, their newfound knowledge opened their eyes to right from wrong, good and evil. It also birthed the seed of sin, which has been passed down through every generation.

The freedom of choice remains in our DNA today.

Though we seldom see it this way, with every decision, you and I figuratively stand in front of that very same tree, desiring knowledge, with the same freedom to choose. And often, we demand its rights in spite of the negative consequences. If we make a poor decision, we are quick to claim, “The devil made me do it,” when it’s far more likely that we’ve let our selfish desires supersede what was the right choice.

So how do we navigate through each day with this gift of choice? First it starts with the greatest decision we can possibly make: choosing to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. By doing so, you immediately become a new creation in Him! His desires become your desires. And when you fail, you have the assurance that any decisions made from your sinful nature—the sins of both your past and your future—have been nailed to another tree: the cross on which Jesus died. What an amazing gift indeed!

Ultimately, every one of us will pass from life here on earth. Depending on the choice a person has made regarding Christ, eternity will be spent with Him or without Him. For those of us who have accepted Christ’s offer, our earthly death will not be the last stop on our journey. For those who reject His offer, the absence of Christ will leave them in total darkness.

I once heard it said that darkness is the complete absence of light. Darkness occurs when light isn’t present. But thanks be to God, Jesus is the Light of the world—the One who dispels the darkness! While death is certain, darkness does not have to be. Christians will forever live in Christ’s light.

Having the assurance of eternal life is a tremendous gift, but life here on Earth can still be extremely difficult. As much as I don’t understand the trials I go through, I have tried desperately hard to embrace those moments as a child of God. That’s a second choice I can make to help me navigate through life more wisely.

It’s in the fire that I know I am being refined, so that my faith—and my joy—can increase. James 1: 2–3 says: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (NLT).

Finally, we can seek direction through Scripture and through prayer.

Be careful not to underrate the power of prayer! Prayer can change the world—and it can change us. Jesus Himself declared that prayer can move mountains, so shouldn’t we believe Him? (And in case we need a further reminder, there are countless stories in the Bible where God performed miracles and moved mightily, simply because His people chose to pray.)

In life, the enemy will tempt us, fearful circumstances will come upon us, and sometimes we will lose our way. In those times, we must remember to anchor ourselves in the rock. Step in the footprints of the one who has gone before us. Die to ourselves. Abide in Christ. Position ourselves (through Scripture-reading and through prayer) next to the one who calms the seas and lights up the darkness.

Or, we can dare to step out onto the waves and focus on the face of our Savior, like Peter did. But in all things, let’s choose faith over fear. Because we know our God is faithful.

• Mark 4:35–41
• 1 Corinthians 15:54–55
• Matthew 11:28–30
• Proverbs 3:5–6