Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in The Lord shall be made safe."
Every verse in the Bible is alive with power and hope...but this one in particular really speaks to me. I believe it is because I have struggled in this area. I grew up shy and wanting people to like me. I still don't like to disappoint anyone or let them down. This at times has been to my own detriment.
Several years ago, I believed that God was speaking to me about a certain ministry. It was more than just a ministry. It was a deep longing to help change the lives of kids who possibly didn't have a stable home, or a parent to talk to. I approached someone I trusted to discuss this and get some ideas. The person was completely against what I wanted to do. He felt that God was actually speaking to him about a different ministry for me. Not wanting to disappoint this person, and because I felt at that time that God would more likely speak to him than to me, I made the decision to trust this person's vision for my life, rather than my own.
Deep inside, I didn't feel that this could be right. My heart was broken, and I had a sense of being misled...but I didn't listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, that was attempting to restore my dream. That day I let go of the dream, and followed man.
Then came into my life a long season of emptiness. I would hear people saying that God had spoken to them about one thing or another..and I came to believe that He only spoke to a certain few..and that I wasn't one of them. I fought feelings of disappointment. I tried to enjoy the new path that I was on, but my heart was never in it.
After some time, I met someone who shared his dream with me. He had stepped out in faith, in what seemed to me to be a nearly impossible endeavor...but he was convinced that he had heard from The Lord. He shared with me that he had come to a point in his life where he simply had to do what He believed God had laid on his heart, even when it didn't make sense to anyone, even if he had to stand alone, even if it meant leaving some behind...even if it meant laying down his life.
I was so struck by what he said to me that day...and then...as sweetly as one can imagine...the Lord spoke to me. He simply reminded me that His sheep hear His voice. He didn't relate to me that certain sheep hear His voice, or that only pastors hear His voice, or that only those in ministry hear His voice. He said.."My sheep hear My voice."
I cannot tell you how life changing that was! I knew that I was one of His sheep. And I recognized the precious voice of my Shepherd. We cannot choose to follow man, believing that every way that a man leads will be the right way. We must follow Christ. Period.
Much of the time, I don't think we even realize what we are doing...and I'm certainly not against getting some wise counsel. But I want every one of you to know...that God DOES speak to you. If you read the book of Acts, you will see how the Holy Spirit led people, and even at times stopped them if the situation warranted. This is how it should be in the life of a believer.
The fear of man brings a snare, beloved. A snare is like a trap..it can hold you and you can't see your way out.
Is there something that God has been speaking to you about? Is there a longing in your heart in a certain direction that you honestly have a passion for? And are you making decisions based on His leading or on what might be favorable with man? My encouragement to you is simply.."whoso putteth his trust in The Lord shall be made safe." The voice of our Shepherd is the One that we want to heed and follow. And when we do, even when things seem impossible...even when they don't make sense...even when we can't see the outcome...even when we must go alone...we can trust in His leading, and in His promise. Follow Christ beloved. You will never regret it.