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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
There are two kinds of fear referred to in the Bible: fear of God and fear of life. In the Hebrew language, fear of God is translated as reverential awe. God takes pleasure in those who fear Him. (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 14:26-27)
We are not to be afraid of life, however. Someone has said that a certain amount of fear is healthy because it keeps us from doing things like walking in front of a car. However, knowledge and common sense keep us from doing those things. Fear of life comes from lack of trust in God. It is a form of unbelief and eats away at our faith, our peace, our hope and our love.
Fear is triggered when our security or happiness is threatened. If we are chronically anxious or fearful, we become enslaved because our fearful thoughts control us. Paul reminds us that we have not been given a spirit that makes us a slave to fear. (Romans 8:15)
The apostle John wrote that "fear has to do with punishment." (I John 4:18 RSV) Feelings of fear come when we think our circumstances or relationships are going to punish us in some way. In addition to the discomfort of feeling afraid, fear influences our approach to life. When we are afraid, we are choosing to believe in the power of what we fear, instead of believing in the power of God and what He promises. Our fearful approach can cause us to make poor choices and may even help to bring about the very things we fear. (Job 3:21)
Some of us think that if we ignore our fear, it will go away and things will get better. But if we avoid a difficulty because of fear, God may allow the problem to repeat itself until we pay attention, learn its lesson and gain the victory He intended. Even repressing our fears will cause us pain because they will emerge in a different form -- in anger, depression, envy, impatience, chronic anxiety or a critical attitude. These may be warning signals that we are being influenced by fear.
The study of psychology has revealed that it is our subconscious life that dominates us. Therefore, we can see the value of examining our lives and offering our innermost selves to God as David did:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
We can tell God about our fear and ask Him to reveal the root or cause. It may be an area where we do not trust Him enough. God will give us insight into ourselves. If our fear is coming from the work of the devil, we can claim authority over Him in the name of Jesus Christ and command that he no longer deceive us into being afraid. (Luke 10:17-18) If we are being influenced by something from our past, our fearful responses will continue unless healing takes place. The root may be a fearful incident, a faulty value or a past hurt that is unresolved. We can ask the Lord to heal the root of our fear so that it will no longer hold us in bondage and influence our present circumstances.
The promise of Scripture is that God’s perfect love casts out our fear. The more we receive God's love, trust Him with our problems and depend on Him to help us, the less afraid we will be of what our problems will do to us. God's love is perfect and it perfecting us by healing us of our fears. (I John 4:18)
When I cannot let go of anxious feelings, I ask the Lord to reveal to me the source of my fear. If I am too emotional about my situation, I may not be able to receive God’s wisdom. I may need someone I trust to pray with me. I know Jesus wants to heal me and redeem (transform) my negative circumstances. When I ask for His help, He will bring good out of everything I offer to Him in love. (Romans 8:28)
The apostle Paul pleads with us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) So as God is helping me to overcome my fear, I try to think in a way that will cooperate with His efforts on my behalf. I affirm that God loves me infinitely, regardless of how successful or unsuccessful I am. I affirm that He is at work on my behalf, even though I may have no visible evidence of it. I acknowledge that reality lies in something more than what my five senses tell me. I believe that God is already at work in the invisible realm bringing about His best for me.
The author of the book of Hebrews wrote, "The world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible." (Hebrews 11:3 Phillips) So what I see does not represent all that is happening. The greater reality lies in what I cannot see. As King Jehoshaphat did, I praise God ahead of time for His victory in my situation. (II Chronicles 20:21-22) God is working in perfect knowledge, perfect love and perfect power!
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
A Thought to Ponder
How does fear cripple our relationships and our creative abilities?
Suggestion for Prayer-Listening
Heavenly Father, your word tells me that “fear has to do with punishment.” Am I carrying any fear in my heart because I think there is the possibility of pain or punishment?
Suggestion for Meditation
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts our fear . . . As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” I John 4:18, John 15: 9
Meditate on the above passage. As you sit quietly with your eyes closed, slow the rate of your breathing. As you breathe in, receive God’s love. As you breathe out, release any anxiety or fear.
Jesus must have known how often people are fearful because He said many times, “Do not to be afraid.” Sometimes God allows me to get into a situation where I must recognize that I am afraid. It is usually that I fear suffering in some way. I am not proud to admit that it is often fear of the unknown – therefore unnecessary and self-defeating. My lack of trust in God could very well render me incapable of receiving the blessings God wants to give me.
The answer I have found to my fears is to feed my anxious heart with the power of the Scriptures, especially God’s promises. The proclamations of God’s love and faithfulness bring peace to my heart. I ask Him to increase my faith and renew in me His gift of hope. (II Thessalonians 2:16-17) -- the confident assurance of the future blessings of God!