Invincible by Robert JeffressSample

Day Five

The Mountain of Fear

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; 1 Peter 3:15

Many Christians equate faith with positive thinking. They say if we believe hard enough, then God will be forced to heal us, restore our marriage, or secure us a high-paying job. It’s the spiritual version of The Little Engine That Could. The mountain looms before us, and the grade is steep, and we chug off, repeating to ourselves, “I think God will, I think God will, I think God will.” That isn’t faith; that’s presumption. 

Here’s what genuine faith looks like: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Let me break this down, so we get a better picture of authentic faith. First, faith is an assurance—that refers to the concrete foundation under a pillar or a building. Second, faith is a conviction—that refers to unseen realities, like the promises of God. In other words, faith is our unshakable belief that God will do what He promises to do. 

God hasn’t promised to restore every marriage, heal every physical affliction, or put a chicken in every pot and a Porsche in every garage. He has promised to lead us, protect us, and bless us if we obey Him in faith. 

When your life becomes threatening and scary, ask yourself these questions: Do I see problems from a human perspective—from the bottom of the mountain looking up? Or do I see problems from God’s perspective—from the top of the mountain looking down? 

The Scripture is filled with promises from God. Like with diamonds, all you need to do is dig them up. The only difference is, these diamonds are already cut and polished. When you place them into the setting of your life, they will transform you into a fearless follower of Christ. Here are a few I’ve dug up for you already, just to get you started: Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 27:1 and 118:6; Proverbs 3:25–26; Isaiah 41:10; and 1 John 4:18. 

These verses are the best faith investments you can make if you’re facing the mountain of fear. Write them on a sticky note and place them on your bathroom mirror or your computer at work. Memorize them and meditate on them throughout the day.

When fear attacks, they’ll remind you that the beauty of faith sparkles like a diamond, a reminder of God’s promises.

What does the difference between faith and presumption look like in light of trusting God?