Is being a Christian scary?

As I was looking through articles on persecuted churches worldwide, it got me to start reflecting. I'm not sure if I'm reflecting from a very biased point of view. But it seems, Christians are the mostly persecuted group of people in the world right now. Their houses, their land, everything can be taken away from them when they've decided to respond to God's call of following Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Not only will all these things be taken away from them, troubles, pains and sufferings will be added unto them as well.

Just these headlines on the news burdens my heart:

Christian Charged despite Thief's Confession

Believers Ordered to Stop Christian Activities

Missing Christian Children Found in Radical Madrases

Isn't it scary to be a Christian? Isn't it just scary?

I feel so heavy-hearted now and I just feel like crying out for them. 

And when I think that the troubles of this life is scary, I would also think of the eternal trouble that is to come if I do not have Jesus. 

So I'd rather be afraid as a Christian, than to be afraid without Christ.

Choosing not to choose, is a choice made.

"It seems that the more options we have, the more afraid we are of choosing. We become enslaved to being noncommittal. We don’t want to make a mistake or cut down our options. In fact, we may become so fearful of making a choice, we simply refuse to choose.

It’s right to be careful in our decision-making, of course: to pray, to seek counsel from Scripture and from wise Christians. The bigger the decision, the more careful we should be. But there comes a point when pausing becomes procrastination, when waiting is no longer wise. There comes a point when not to choose becomes idolatry. It becomes a lack of trust in the God who ordains the decisions we will make, gathers up the frayed ends, and works all things for our good and his glory.

Trust that God is good and sovereign, and redeems every choice we make. If even the choices of those who murdered his own Son were ordained for our own infinite good (Acts 4:27–28), then how can we doubt that he intends good to come from our choices, however ill-advised they may be?"

- Barry Cooper

I know I want to commit to something, and once I commit to it, I gotta walk through it no matter what I face.

Unwilling Silence

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. -James 3:17-18

I am thankful for how He has created me, the passions that He placed in me, the things that He breaks my heart for. This fire that He keeps burning and this burning fiery passion that threatens to spread in a possibly dangerous way. 

It's true. Only God understands. He knows me more than I know myself. He knows the struggles that I'm going through, and the struggles that are to come and He knows that self-control is the Word for me in the seasons to come.