"BE NOT AFRAID"
More and more people are allowing world events and garbled information to create fear and anxiety that torment, confuse, and potentially paralyze any ability to walk in faith. It is Satan, the god of this world, who uses fear to capture minds and cause people to question and doubt the reliability and truth of God’s Word and His promises (2 Corinthians 4:4).
God knew that fear was going to be our greatest adversary. So, he stated 365 scriptural warnings and admonitions to remind us each day not to fear. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world…” (Ephesians 6:12). As much as that reality is rejected, the fact remains that there are two worlds—the seen and the unseen. Fortunately, Jesus defeated Satan and his minions in that part of the unseen world. As Christ followers, we can go to the scriptures and learn the importance of knowing our authority over that dark world.
Daily, the enemy of our soul works to create fear and a reason to question God and His Word. But God says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). That is why the daily reading of His Word is crucial. It reveals God’s truths that will build faith, overcome fear, and provide the most reliable, solid foundation to build trust in God and not in ourselves and our circumstances.
The Bible speaks of three kinds of fear:
Destructive fear spawns anxiety, distrust, and unbelief.
Healthy fear alerts of impending danger.
Holy fear reveres God, His sovereignty, and His Word.
God’s Word encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). If we are trusting in the Lord with all our heart, then we have no fear because it is settled in our heart that all things will work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Learning to trust with all our heart can be a very real struggle if our focus is on the problem and not on God who is our problem solver. I finally realized that fear was manipulating my faith and trust in God, so now my efforts go to redirecting my focus on Him and His Word. Only then is it possible to find peace, comfort, and direction in a world that has been turned up-side-down.
Recently, I heard a powerful testimony of faith and trust in God from a husband and father in his mid-thirties who owned a very successful business. He began experiencing alarming symptoms that resulted in the diagnosis of a glioblastoma (terminal brain cancer that offers no hope for recovery).
Given this devastating news, this young father chose to live life to the fullest. He sold his business so he could spend quality time with his wife and children, embrace activities as a family, and enjoy his passion for horticulture. His life became fuller and spiritually richer than previously, and as months passed, his faith and trust in the Lord grew exponentially. The forecast of his demise morphed into a miraculous six years, and he is now cancer free.
Fear strangles hope, trust, and faith. It creates scary scenarios that paralyze the mind with negative and unfruitful thoughts of what might happen, thus sabotaging peace, joy, faith, and trust in God. If you struggle with fear, know that you are in good company with several men of the Bible. One such man was Moses.
The Lord God told Moses to speak to Pharaoh, but Moses, fearing retribution from Pharaoh, offered many excuses of why he was not the right man. However, the Lord reassured Moses that He would give him strength to carry out the mission and would have his brother, Aaron, help with communication. Moses then confidently faced Pharaoh ten different times with threats of plagues. The last plague, which was the death of every first-born male of Egypt, included the death of Pharaoh’s son. This caused him to drive the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:9-11; 4:10-14).
Another great man that God used was the Prophet Elijah whom God called to oppose the wicked King Ahab and bring revival to the land. Elijah saw himself as the lone defender of God, so he defeated the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, and 450 false prophets were put to death. But that victory was overshadowed by Ahab’s wicked and murderous wife, Queen Jezebel, who wanted Elijah dead for ordering the killing of her prophets (I Kings 18).
Elijah fled into the wilderness where he became so discouraged that he told God, “… take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (I Kings 19:4). The Lord then sent an angel to bring Elijah food and drink. After rest and nourishment, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights to meet with the LORD on Mount Horeb (a.k.a. Mount Sinai where Moses met God). There, he was given further instructions.
No doubt that during his long and arduous trek, Elijah used that time to pray and seek God. When we are in a difficult situation that causes fear and uncertainty, God encourages us to go directly to Him in prayer as did Elijah (Kings 19:6-16).
There are many other examples of people who became fearful, but we cannot ignore the disciples, who ate, slept, traveled, sat under Jesus’ teaching, and witnessed many miracles. Yet when Jesus was arrested, they scattered and went into hiding. And Peter, who had passionately told Jesus he would die for Him, denied knowing Him three times. It would be during the 40 days the disciples spent with Jesus after His resurrection that their hearts would burn with new faith, purpose, and direction (Acts 1-2). And just before His ascension into heaven, He would leave them with instructions.
Has God spoken instructions that you feel unqualified to accomplish? I experienced fear and hesitancy and argued with God when He instructed me to lead worship (which I had never done). Then again when he called me to write, I felt totally inadequate. However, I chose to trust and believe God. And in that obedience, He revealed talent and gifting that He had placed within me long before I was born (Jeremiah 1:5).
God, The Creator, knows us better than we know ourselves. He gave each person unique gifts and talents, but often the fear of failure, our insecurities, and the fear of looking foolish can impede the ability to trust and obey God. However, if we resist fear, walk in faith, and trust Him, our act of obedience will trump fear and draw blessings to our lives so that we can bless others.
PRAYER: FATHER, my desire is to be obedient to You and to Your will. Help me walk this journey with You as I faithfully read Your Word and discern Your truths against the world’s false narratives. Forgive me for allowing fear to control my decisions and give me courage to trust and do those things that You ask of me. In Jesus’ name, amen.