Can you imagine life without fear or worry? I can’t. It is so much a part of our lives that imagining a life without the smallest fear, worry, or anxiety feels impossible. Adam and Eve were the only ones who were able to experience this kind of life — that is until they disobeyed the perfect law of God. From that moment on, fear and all of its relatives made their home in our hearts.
No one is immune. We all experience it, from mild uneasiness and worry to crippling anxiety and stark terror. We could spend weeks talking about all the things that rob us of our sleep and torment our minds. Instead of focusing on what affects us, we want to look at fear and worry in light of who God is and how we can overcome them through the power of His Word.
What is fear?
Fear is defined in many different ways. It is a feeling of anxiety or dread concerning an outcome or the stress of wondering if your needs or desires will be met.
Any number of things can cause fear. It can be ignited through people, circumstances, experiences, hardship, illness, death, loss, pain, the past, the future, or the stirrings of our imaginations.
Fear and anxiety not only affect us mentally, they also affect us physically. Fear puts a knot in your stomach and causes your heart to race. It can make it hard to concentrate or sit still. Fear can cause loss of appetite, or overindulgence, not being able to sleep and weepiness. It feels terrible to be afraid, but there is a deeper level to fear.
Fear is a lack of trust in God. When we let worry take over, we disobey God by believing something other than what He has said in His Word. Our fears show unbelief in what God is capable of doing, unbelief in His goodness and care for us, and unbelief in His greatness.
Here is the good news: While we will be exploring some of the things that cause fear, we will also look at how we can overcome our fears through the power of God’s Word. Our victory will begin when we focus on who God is and place our faith in His promises.
We don’t have to be controlled by fear, and when our eyes are opened to the incredible extent Jesus went to save us — not only from the penalty of sin but also from its power — we will see how fear and anxiety have no foothold in the Christian life.
Friend, there is only One who can conquer your circumstances, fears, and anxieties: The One True God who is real and lives. He acts and saves on your behalf because He loves you. He is your God.
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Asking questions does not indicate you are doubting or “testing” God. In fact, Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
It is a continual process that does not end until we have asked the tough questions, heard the answers, and believed God’s word, allowing us to fully embrace God’s perfect will.
I learned about a prayer from reading Dr. Jim Denison’s Forum… this is a response to doubt – a relative of fear:
The father added, “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (v. 22b). Jesus replied, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” (v. 23). Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (v. 24). Mark 9:22-24
My takeaway from this response to doubt is that Jesus does not condemn doubt, but rather uses doubt to draw us closer to the Father. Therefore, fear should not be viewed as disobeying God, but a journey with Him through the valleys. The sharp thorns of the rose are as significant as the glorious beauty of the rose petals.It is through such darkness that we are refined with fire… oftentimes, the continual refining process is painful – fear and anxiety reside in the shadows of the valleys… Because we can do nothing apart from God, believing itself is a feat that we cannot achieve on our own and must then pray to God to help our unbelief in the midst of our darkest moments. We are truly that vulnerable, but He strengthens us with a simple “I love you” and draws us near no matter what spiritual state we are in.
You can read the full article here for further insight: https://www.denisonforum.org/resource/sermons/dealing-with-doubts-coronavirus-and-my-favorite-prayer-in-scripture/
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ashleiellen, no doubt. The Bible is full of people who doubted God, whether they didn’t believe they were as brave as God said or running cuz they plain didn’t want to do what He asked.
Can we use 2014 and 2020 Fear and Anxiety journal books within our same group? We ordered by ISBN number, but got different versions. What are some of the changes?
Also, is there a search button on your blog? I am not finding it. Thank you.