2 Timothy 1:7 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Priscilla tells us in Strategy 6 that “The fact is this: fear is one of Satan’s primary schemes for crippling God’s people. I’m not talking about legitimate concern. I’m not talking about the protective warnings of wisdom and godly counsel. I’m talking about fear. Incessant worry. Up-all-night anxiety. Worst-case scenarios becoming the only probabilities you can think about….”p 109
How many times have you found yourself in a situation where you are dealing with this kind of fear? I think for me, the better question would be how often do I not feel this kind of fear?
I have a mind that JUMPS to the worst-case scenarios. It doesn’t matter what it is, I go there. I don’t pause and pray, I assume the worst and make myself sick over the details about what might happen. For the most part, the worst-case never comes to fruition….but the enemy knows it is a weakness in my life and it is a constant place of attack.
About 7 months after my miscarriage in 2008 I found myself pregnant again. While I was thrilled, I also now had a jaded view of what could happen. I had heard stories of loss before my own, but always thought it wouldn’t happen to me.
But then it did and everything changed. Healing through that loss opened my eyes and my naive heart to what did happen, to so many women. And while the knowledge created a sense of empathy I didn’t have before, it also started to fester as fear in my spirit.
For months I found myself unable to relax, to really enjoy the pregnancy. I lived moment by moment waiting for the other shoe to drop. Certain that because it happened once, it surely could happen again.
Fear – it is ugly. It masks the truth, it darkens hope and it makes me feel out of control.
During that time I did a search for bible versus related to fear and here are some that I found.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1)
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” (Psalms 56:3-4)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Promises – promises to us that no matter what we face, real or not, God is with us. He is my rock and my salvation, He is the strength of my life. Do not fear for He is with me.
What do I want to believe today? Promises or lies? Real truth or unrealized fear?
It is my choice really. I hold fast to the promises today and I will shield myself with His word and His truth – that the lies of one who seeks to destroy me will flee in terror of the almighty truth of a God who love me.
And the truth shall set me free….
I can’t say that I have defeated fear in my life. I still struggle with it. But today I am bringing more and more to God in prayer. Usually I know I am being irrational, but He listens. I pray for peace to fill my spirit instead of fear.
It is a part of our faith walk that can be difficult. Do we trust God? I once had a friend ask me if I could trust God even if the worst-case scenario came true. Would He still be the same to me as He is when things are fine and dandy? To be honest, in the moment, I wasn’t sure. I wrestled with that!
But God is faithful and patient. I have tested this truth time and time again!
So when I find myself stuck in the mire of fear, I bring it to Him. I pray over it, as many times as is needed…until I am filled with His peace. The situation doesn’t always give me the result that I hope for…but I do believe that God is with me through it all. He can handle my hurt and my fear and He gives me peace.
There is freedom in that. I am praying that if fear is an obstacle for you, you would read some of those verses above for yourself. Commit one to memory and bring all of your needs to God in fervent prayer.
Lord, we struggle with fear. It is a tool that the enemy has used as a weapon against us time and time again. Your word tells us that we should not fear because You are with us. We are holding to that promise today. Fill us with your peace Lord, strengthen our trust in You. Thank you that we don’t have to walk alone. In Jesus Name, Amen!