We all have experienced fear, from mild uneasiness to stark terror. There are circumstances that bring about sleepless nights, stomach aches, and loss of concentration. Think about what some of those things are for you.
What exactly is fear? Fear is a feeling of anxiety or dread concerning the outcome of something or that your needs or desires will not be met.
It can be caused by a myriad of things. It can be ignited through people, circumstances, experiences, hardship, illness, death, loss, pain, the recollection of the past, the unknown of the future, or the stirrings of our imagination.
The Problem with Fear
There is a big problem with being fearful. It is a form of disobedience to God. Numerous times throughout Scripture we are told not to be afraid.
When we let fear take over we are disobeying God by believing something other than what He has said in His Word. I always come back to Philippians 4:8 where Paul tells us to think of things that are honorable, true and right. When we worry about something that has not happened yet we are not thinking about something that is true, are we?
When fearful things happen and we let it paralyze us we are not believing what God has told us in His Word.
Why Don’t We Need to Fear?
We find our answer in Isaiah 41:10:
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am YOUR God.
The reason we don’t need to fear is because God is our God. This is so very important because this means that He is also our help. And what will He help us with?
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
He will give you strength to make it through the toughest, darkest, and scariest times. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed and plain tired, ready to give up. It is during this time that He will hold us up by His own hand.
His arm is omnipotence. ‘In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength’ (Isaiah 26:4). His is an arm that can never be broken! Out of this clasp—we can never be taken. – J.R. Miller
When fear tries to take control of your life, preach Truth to yourself. Remind yourself that you are held in the arms of a God who has no limits to His power, compassion, kindness, and help.
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1
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Invaluable advice and encouragement
Thank you so much for this study. Todays lesson really made me stop and think about my adult children who were raised in the church but have chosen a different path. I just need to stop worrying about them and just let God do His thing. I know that they will all be saved one day because the Lord gave me a promise many, many years ago in Acts 16:31. I claim that promise and praise the Lord for all He has done for me. Thank you for a wonderful and blessed job you do.
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