What are you most afraid of? heights? darkness? death? illness? elevators? spiders? snakes?
God knew we would experience fear because His Word mentions 'fear' 385 times. However, fear doesn't always mean being afraid. There are two types of fear:
1) The fear of the Lord. Aren’t we supposed to love and trust the Lord? So why, then, does the Bible say to ‘fear’ Him? Luke 12:5 - “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” We are not to be ‘afraid’ of the Lord, but to reverence His power and be in awe of Him, acknowledging and knowing all that He is; not only His salvation power, but also the blessings, wisdom, peace and life that He brings.
2) The ‘spirit of fear’ – 2Timothy 1:7 - “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fearfulness does not come from God. Satan uses the spirit of fear to discourage and keep us from relying on God’s strength and power. All throughout the Bible, God reminds us to ‘fear not’. In order to overcome the spirit of fear, we need to trust in and love God completely. 1John 4:18 - “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Every anxious thought that steals my breath,
It's a heavy weight upon my chest.
As I lie awake and wonder what the future will hold,
Help me to remember that You're in control.
You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night;
You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight.
You are greater than the battle raging in my mind.
I will trust You, Lord, I will fear no more!
Wondering what the future holds? Remember WHO is in control! Joshua 1:9 - “... be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Don’t let darkness overwhelm you ... ‘big things’ become ‘little’ in the hands of God. Fear no more!
