Face My Fears So That I Can Get Something Done

In review of Ecclesiastes 11:4 it says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (TLB).

Today’s verse comes from Ecclesiastes 11:4 where Solomon speaks of the uncertainties of life, and he says a farmer who waits for perfect weather will never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

Life involves both risk and opportunity. Because life had no guarantees, I must be prepared. Just because life is uncertain doesn't mean that I should do nothing. I need a spirit of trust and adventure, facing life's risks and opportunities with God directed enthusiasm and faith.

So waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity. This practical insight is especially applicable to my spiritual life. If I wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible ready, I will never begin. If I wait for the perfect small group, I will never join. If I wait for the perfect ministry, I will never serve. I need to take steps now to grow spiritually. I should not wait for conditions that may never exists.

What I’m learning is that fear is at the root of all of my indecision, fear that I’ll make a mistake, that I’ll fail, that I’ll embarrass myself, that I’ll make a commitment I can’t keep, that somebody will laugh at me or reject me. It’s always fear that keeps me indecisive.

Truth is that I don’t like to admit that I’m afraid, so internally I make excuses.

God has a dream for my life, and Jesus Christ wants to be the center of it. I might be saying, “I don’t .... Or if only I ..... ”. It’s fear that’s keeping me from making the decision that I know God wants me to make.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (TLB). Perfectionism paralyzes potential.

But God has always used imperfect people in imperfect situations to get his will done. Always. If you’re waiting for that perfect person to come along, they’re not coming. If you’re waiting for circumstances to be just right or to get over certain things before you really get committed to Christ, it’s not going to happen. The basic commitments of life must be made in the middle of the stuff of life. Life goes on.

What’s the antidote to fear? Faith. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is on our side, who can ever be against us?” (TLB). I need to trust my fears to God and start moving despite the problems, fears, and doubts.

If God’s given me a dream and I know it’s his will, make the decision and move against the fear. Then watch as the Red Sea opens up and the manna is provided and God does the miracle in that relationship, in that problem, in your finances, or whatever it is.

I need to do something great with my life for Jesus’ sake. Don’t waste it. Don’t live in mediocrity. Don’t just exist. Make the decisions that will determine my destiny.

Bottom Line:

If you wait for everything to be just right, you will never get anything done.

What this means to me:

If I wait until the the wind and the weather are just right, I will never start anything and never complete it.

In summary, I need to face my fears so that I can get something done. As Solomon wrote, "a farmer who waits for perfect weather will never plant". Just because life if uncertain doesn't mean that I should do nothing. Waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity. I need to take steps to now, I should not wait for conditions that my never exist. Fear is at the root of all my indecision. God has a dream for my life and Jesus wants to be the center of it. I just need to be careful of perfectionism which will only paralyze my potential. The antidote to fear is faith. If God has given me a dram and I know it's his will, make the decision that will determine my destiny and move against the fear.