Scary Promises – The Promised Land

Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite community: “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!”
While the whole community threatened to stone them, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

(Numbers 14:3-10 from Holman Christian Standard Bible ©®)

It is nearly impossible to see the work that Yahweh wants to do in your future if you are prone to fear. Fear will make the scary future much less valuable than the comfort of knowing the people or situations that beat you in your past. Even though doubt feels smart, it is very difficult to be smart when I am filled with fear or doubt rather than the Holy Spirit.