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https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/ What happens when the story God has given you finally becomes real? In this powerful episode, the seventh installment of our Fear Series, Pastor Ben Cooper takes us on a journey through the complex emotions that arise when we manifest what God has placed within us. This episode draws profound biblical parallels between the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt and our own spiritual journeys after we receive and share our God-given callings.

The Fear After Your Calling is Delivered

After the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the holy family faced immediate, deadly opposition from King Herod, forcing them to flee as refugees into Egypt. Pastor Ben highlights how, like Mary and Joseph, we too often face resistance when we bring God's vision to life. Just as Herod sought to destroy Jesus, we often encounter opposition from unexpected sources when we begin walking in our calling.

This episode invites listeners to explore the reality of this spiritual warfare and the difficult emotions that arise when we experience resistance from people around us. Pastor Ben makes a critical observation: "The people around you are saying there’s no room for Jesus". Sometimes, those closest to us can become the greatest opposition to our calling, and the fear that follows isn't just about stepping into our purpose — it’s the fear of losing what God has entrusted to us.

Fear of Losing What God Has Given

Ministers fear the loss of their ministries. Visionaries fear the death of their God-given dreams. Parents fear for their children's futures. In this episode, we confront the deep-seated fear that emerges once we start living out God’s call, a fear that is born from the possibility of losing what we have gained. Pastor Ben provides clarity, acknowledging that fear is a natural response, but it's also the reminder of the magnitude of the story we are carrying.

A New Season, A New Territory

The birthplace of your calling might not be the place where it thrives. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but His early years were spent in the protection of Egypt, a place that was foreign to His family. Similarly, our God-given callings might require us to step into unfamiliar places or environments. These transitions — both spiritual and geographical — often provoke unique fears. We question whether our story will survive in new surroundings, whether we’ll be able to continue nurturing our calling in the face of change.

Pastor Ben urges us to remember that God’s calling is never just about the place we start; it’s about His purpose. No matter the opposition or the unfamiliar territory, the story we carry is protected by God's will.

The Antidote to Fear: God’s Story Through You

Rather than dismissing fear, Pastor Ben acknowledges it as a natural human emotion, and offers the antidote: "Your story will survive because it’s not actually your story – it’s God’s story being delivered through you." This profound truth provides comfort and reassurance, knowing that no matter the fear, God’s purpose will ultimately prevail.

Are you ready to face the fear after delivering your calling? In this episode, Pastor Ben helps you understand why no opposition can destroy what God has purposed for your life.

Listen and Be Empowered

Don’t miss this life-changing episode! Whether you're facing opposition in your minist

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https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her encounter with the angel that changed her life. As the angel delivered the life-altering message, he reassured Mary with the words, "Do not be afraid." These words spoke directly to the fear that gripped her heart in the face of her divine calling. Fear is a natural human response when we're called to something extraordinary, and today, we explore how fear affects us when we're called to share our spiritual journey with others.

A Journey of Fear and Faith: Mary’s Bold Calling

Mary's story is one of courage in the face of fear. Imagine being a young, unmarried woman in a conservative society, tasked with explaining a miraculous pregnancy to her fiancé, Joseph, her family, and her community. The fear of rejection, misunderstanding, and social alienation was real for Mary—and it’s something many of us experience today when called to share our faith or step into a divine calling.

Whether it’s sharing a testimony, answering a call to ministry, or simply telling your family you've found faith, the fear of rejection can be paralyzing. Just as Mary feared Joseph's reaction and potential social ostracism, we fear workplace discrimination, family tension, or social alienation when sharing our faith journey. But, just as the angel reassured Mary, God also reassures us to trust His plan, even in moments of fear.

Choosing the Right Confidants: Guarding Your God-Story

One of the key lessons from Mary’s story is the importance of selecting the right people to share our spiritual journey. Just as Joseph supported Mary after receiving a divine dream, we must be careful about confiding in the wrong people. In today’s world of social media, sharing our calling or faith story can lead to swift opposition. Knowing who to trust with your testimony can protect your calling from harm.

Embracing the Courage to Share Your God-Story

As you listen to this episode, think about the story God has placed in your heart. Are you "pregnant" with a testimony, calling, or transformation that feels too dangerous or difficult to reveal? Remember, God doesn't just give us a story to tell; He also prepares the way for it to be shared. Whether through divine intervention or quiet reassurance, God will make a way for your story to be heard.

Join Us on This Journey

This episode is a powerful reminder that, despite the fear, God calls us to share our God-stories. Whether it’s through divine guidance or His gentle reassurance, you are not alone. Subscribe to this podcast series, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and support our ministry as we spread hope globally.

Tune in to RB Christian Radio, a global Christian radio station, where this episode is shared with listeners around the world. Together, let’s break the chains of fear and boldly share the works God is doing in our lives.

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https://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/The journey of faith is rarely straightforward, and the tension between divine calling and human fear stands as one of its most profound paradoxes. In this deeply encouraging podcast, Pastor Ben Cooper explores the liberating truth found in Luke 1:30-33, where fear doesn't disqualify us from our purpose; it affirms that we're human. When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary, announcing that she would bear the Savior of the world, her immediate reaction was fear. But God's response was clear: "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God."

This pivotal moment in Scripture reveals an essential truth about the Christian journey: fear and calling often coexist. Fear does not signify spiritual failure or a misunderstanding of God’s purpose for our lives. On the contrary, it often highlights our humanity and our dependence on God. When we look at biblical characters such as Moses, Gideon, and even Jesus Himself, we see that they, too, wrestled with fear when faced with divine assignments. It was not their fearlessness that set them apart, but their willingness to remain faithful despite their fears.

Many believers today experience the same fear when answering God's call, whether it's stepping into church leadership, sharing the gospel in a secular world, or simply following Christ more closely. For some, the fear of the unknown or of being judged by society can be overwhelming. However, the presence of fear does not invalidate our calling. Just as faith and fear can coexist in the same spiritual soil, obedience to God's Word in the face of fear can lead to powerful transformation.

The Paradox of Fear and Faith

In Matthew 14:29-30, the story of Peter walking on water provides a profound lesson for believers. Peter successfully walked on water when he focused on Jesus, but as soon as he became distracted by the storm, he began to sink. This powerful metaphor teaches us that while faith in God is essential, fear will often try to distract us from the path ahead. The question is not whether we will face fear, but whether we will keep our eyes on Christ through the storm.

The ability to overcome fear is closely tied to where we place our focus. Fear only has power when we allow it to overshadow our trust in God. Divine intervention occurs when we recognize that God’s plans for us are far greater than our human limitations. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Stepping into Your Purpose

The more daunting the calling, the greater the faith required. If you could accomplish your divine mission through your own strength, it wouldn’t require God’s supernatural intervention. Whether you're called to ministry, a mission field, or to serve your community, the first step in embracing your calling is acknowledging that God equips the called, even when fear tries to paralyze us.

Are you afraid but called? You are not alone. Every believer who has answered God’s call—whether it’s to serve, speak, or act—has experienced moments of doubt and fear. Yet, as Mary found, and as the Bible shows us through countless examples, God’s response to our fear is one of reassurance and favor.

Take heart: God does not call the equipped, but equips the called. Faith overcomes fear when we trust in God’s ability to do the impossible. Remember, fear does not disqualify you; it is often the v

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