On a recent Women of Grace Live radio program, we discussed the quote below, which came from one of my previous blog posts. It generated a spirit-filled conversation about overcoming fear when we are moving forward in what we believe to be God's will for our lives. I am re-posting the blog below as well as the link to the radio program below. I hope that it provides you inspiration today if you are experiencing fear.
I have come to believe that God is always about the business of revealing His will to us. He is always speaking to us. All we need do is have ears to hear. Today, He spoke through our radio broadcast.
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During the first break of our Women of Grace Live show today, I dashed to get the book I have been reading. It is the autobiography of Saint Teresa of Avila entitled, The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself." It has been many years since I first read this work and it was time to visit it again.
I wanted to share with the listeners a couple of quotes from the book that I found particularly meaningful and had forgotten to bring it into the room with me.
I never made it beyond the first quote I shared: "For now I know from plentiful experience that if I resolutely persist in a purpose from the beginning, and it is done for God's sake only, His Majesty rewards me even in this life in ways which only one who has known their joys can understand. In such cases, even before we begin, it is His will that the soul, for the increase of its merits, shall be afraid. Then the greater the fear, the greater and the sweeter the subsequent reward will be if we succeed. This I know from experience, as I have said, on many very serious occasions; and so if ever I were to be asked for an opinion, I would recommend anyone to whom a good inspiration repeatedly comes, never to neglect it out of fear. If he turns nakedly to God alone, he need not be afraid of failure, since God is all-powerful. May He be blessed for ever! Amen."
I particularly stressed the words, I would recommend to anyone to whom a good inspiration repeatedly comes, never to neglect it out of fear. If he turns nakedly to God alone, he need not be afraid of failure, since God is all-powerful. "
These words are important because they help us avert one of Satan's greatest tactics. One of the chief ways he prevents us from moving forward in a work to which God calls us is by inciting fear into our hearts. Often, this fear is a fear of failure. Through these words Saint Teresa reminds us that we cannot fail if God has called us to a task because He is all-powerful. We need only rely on Him and Him alone.
Earlier in the quote, Saint Teresa explains that it is God's will that the soul experiences fear because the soul, if it persists in spite of the fear, will merit even greater grace. This, in itself, is great success. Here, Saint Teresa reveals a great truth. Satan can only function with the permission of God, and God uses even his temptations, provocations and attempts to bring greater grace and spiritual benefit to us.
