Fear. It is something that most of us struggle with either from time to time or for some all the time. If you think about driving down the road in a car and another car pulls out in front of you, what is your reaction? For most of us, our eyes widen, our heart races, our reflexes kick in and quickly your brain tells your body to react in order to avoid injury. This is God given. When our bodies sense danger, it reacts to protect itself. The problem is many of us live in a constant state of fear. It may feel like dread, terror, or impending doom that the proverbial other shoe is about to drop. For many of us fear morphs into anxiety and worry that may seem like constant companions.
Most of us know enough about health to understand this way of living is not good for your mind or your body. When I was teaching school, if students came in with a lot of fear and anxiety, they could not focus or concentrate on what was being taught. Fear literally changed their ability to take in information and interact with others. When the students came to realize they were in a safe and peaceful zone, I could see much better results with their learning.
Fear may be a part of life at times, but it was not something God ever intended us to live under. In 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV), the apostle Paul is speaking to Timothy and he tells him, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” God’s desire for us is to not operate out of fear. He has given us authority and power to live on this earth with a sound mind capable of making not only good decisions but brave decisions.
Let’s look at the children of Israel. The Israelites had been delivered from slavery out of Egypt by Moses. God had told them He was taking them to the promised land. Once they got there, Moses sent twelve spies in the land to scout it out. Ten spies came back and told of the giants in the land and the fortified cities. Joshua and Caleb came back and told of the land running with milk and honey, and that it was indeed everything that God had promised them. All of what the twelve spies said was true. They did not enter into two separate lands. So what was the difference? The ten spies came back with a spirit of fear. How are we going to conquer this land? There are giants and warriors and fortified cities? Joshua and Caleb came back knowing that if this was the land God had promised them, then He would provide a way to conquer the land.
The ten spies were so convinced in their fear that the people of Israel began to respond in fear as well. They actually ignored the reports of Joshua and Caleb and began making plans to select a leader to return to Egypt! They were so afraid of what was in front of them that despite all that God had done to deliver them from Egypt (parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven everyday, pillar of cloud to lead them by day and a pillar of fire at night to give them light, to name a few) they were more willing to go back to Egypt and slavery than to claim the very land God had promised them!
In Deuteronomy 1:29-31, Moses is recounting these events and says “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.” Moses is in a sense reminding the people of God’s track record. He is telling them, God delivered you from Egypt against all odds. He protected you. He fed you in the wilderness. But now you don’t believe Him? This, the very thing He promised you, seems too big?
The Israelites’ consequence for their unbelief and fear was that no one from that generation with the exception of Joshua and Caleb would be allowed into the promised land. Once that generation had died off, Joshua was the appointed leader to lead the Israelites into the promised land. We see in Joshua chapter 1, God giving Joshua instructions as he prepares to lead the people into the promised land. In chapter one alone, God tells Joshua, be strong and of good courage four times. What does this mean? It means there were plenty of opportunities for fear ahead. Even though this is the land God had promised, it did not mean they would not have to go conquer it. It was theirs for the taking, but they had to go take it. God did not provide a no trouble pathway. He provided a pathway for them as long as they trusted and listened to Him.
I think this story in the Bible is an important one. I think that sometimes we as Christians think that if we love God and believe in His promises that there will never be any trouble or opportunities to be afraid. This is just not the case. In fact, in John 16:33 (The Passion Translation) Jesus is speaking and says, “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” Jesus is telling us that in this world there will be times of trouble. The key is not to grab ahold of fear and allow it to lead us down the what if path of impending doom. We don’t want to be like the children of Israel that forgot everything God had done for them and were willing to go back to slavery rather than face their fear to get the very thing God had promised them.
So how do we deal with fear? First of all recognize it as a spirit that is not given by God. Refuse to partner with fear. Fear is not your friend, and it should not be allowed to talk to you openly and freely. You have the authority given by God to silence fear. The Bible is full of scripture about how to deal with fear and how God has conquered fear. I John 4:18 (NKJV) says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” Perfect love is Jesus. He loves you completely and perfectly. When you feel fear, you only have to call on Him to come fill you. He promises that His perfect love will cast the fear out. That is an amazing promise.
The book of Psalms is also filled with many wonderful scriptures about doing away with fear. Psalm 94:19 (NKJV) says “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 91:1 (The Passion Translation) says, “When you abide under the shadow of the Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.” The entire chapter is about staying close to God as He shelters and protects you. Psalm 71:3 ( The Passion Translation) says, “You’re the only place of protection for me. I keep coming back to hide myself in you, for you are like a mountain-cliff fortress where I’m kept safe.” Again, this whole chapter speaks of God’s protection and security. Reading these Psalms reminds me that we are all human. These were great men of God that wrote these Psalms. Yet, they were reminding God who He was and what He had promised, and they were reminding themselves who God is and what He had promised. I invite you to read through the Psalms and underline or highlight the ones that leap out to you and resonate with you. It will help put fear in its place.
Remember friend, God is always for you and never against you. He wants you to be loved so thoroughly by Him fear does not have a place in your life. The next time you feel fear trying to take over in your life, ask the Lord to show you how much He loves you. Remind yourself of all the times He has kept His promises in your life. Remind yourself of all that He has done for you. God is not a God of fear, and He does not want you to live your life controlled by fear. He wants you to live a supernatural abundant life thriving in His love. He wants you to live fearless!
Here are some other great articles on Fear!
Does Fear Have a Place in the Life of a Christian? By Regina Marcazzo-Skarka https://reginamarcazzoskarka.wordpress.com/?p=90
Why I am So Scared By Amy Cobb https://www.tayloredintent.com/blog/why-am-i-so-scared
I ain’t afraid: Reflections on turning 50 By Jessica Weaver. www.rootedunrooted.com/blog/i-aint-afraid
When Hidden Fear Creeps Out By Dianne Vielhuber https://simplewordsoffaith.com/2021/10/31/when-hidden-fear-creeps-out/
How to Help Kids with Anxiety and Fear By Ashley Olivine https://louvaria.com/how-to-help-kids-with-anxiety-and-fear/