Though the world battles a shared dose of fear today, fear is not a new reaction to unknown or frightening circumstances. Fear entered our world when the first man and woman disobeyed God. Just a few sentences later, we witness Adam saying, “I was afraid”. (Genesis 3:10).
Like other emotions, fear comes in many shapes and sizes and in varying degrees; some rational, some not so much; demonstrated in the statement, “I am afraid of wasps and a family member dying.”
We grow out of some fears. Other fears grow up with us. Some we’ve learned to corral, while others lurk behind bushes our whole lives but never materialize. Then, with suddenness, a fear we didn’t know existed, bursts onto the scene and takes up residence.
So, how do we fight fear? How do we manage this emotion that causes our heart rate to elevate, our breathing to accelerate, and brain waves to begin flashing warnings? Or perhaps the opposite reaction as a silent, heavy dread overtakes us?
The antitheses to fear are faith and focus.
1. Faith. All through scripture, stories contain the words, “Do not be afraid.” This deep, loving encouragement is spoken to individuals, groups and nations. And each of them links to a treasure we can build our faith upon. Let’s just sit back and soak in this powerful, parade of fear-fighting promises God provides us. Read these slowly.
-Do not be afraid for I am with you. (Genesis 26:24)
-Do not be afraid; remember well what the Lord your God has done.
(Deuteronomy 7:18)
-Do not be afraid for the Lord your God goes with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
-Do not be afraid for the Lord your God will be with you wherever
you go. (Joshua 1:9)
-Do not be afraid for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)
-Do not be afraid; the Lord is my light and salvation, the stronghold of
my life. (Psalm 27:1)
-Do not be afraid for I myself (God) will help you. (Isaiah 41:14)
-Do not be afraid for I (God) am with you. (Isaiah 43:5)
-Do not be afraid; they (your enemy) cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28)
-Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard. (Luke 1:13)
-Do not be afraid; I bring you good news of great joy for all people.
(Luke 2:10)
-Do not be afraid; just believe. (Luke 8:50)
-Do not be afraid; My peace I give you. (John 14:27)
-Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! (Revelation 1:17)
These are not empty words that sound “nice”. They are powerful promises. Hope-building, heart-stopping, breath-taking guarantees from the mouth and heart of our God. We need to resist the tendency to lightly pass over them without soaking in the profoundness of their truth. As realization pours over us, we pull out our fears and expose them to God’s assurances.
Us: “God, I’m afraid.
God: “Why are you afraid, my child?”
Us: “Cancer. That monster cancer.”
God: “Why do you fear cancer?”
Us: “Well, because. Someone I love could get diagnosed and be taken on
a horrible journey. Or I could.”
God: “And I will be with you both.”
Us: “But Father, people die from cancer!”
God: “And then?”
Us: (as the truth of His promise settles over us) “And then we would be free and
dancing in Your presence. Forever.”
God: “And I will welcome you and rejoice with you, for you are finally home with Me, my child. Forever.”
Our fears are real. But if we drag them from the darkened territory of the enemy and into the land of His promises, they begin to diminish as we build our faith upon the solid rock of His Word and His character.
2. Focus. If we focus on our circumstances we are going to be afraid. To battle fear, we must move our focus from what’s happening in the physical realm to the spiritual dimension around us, for that is where our hope lies.
Instead of spotlighting our circumstances with God in our peripheral vision, God needs to be our focus at all times, with our circumstances pushed to the perimeter, blurred and of minor consequence compared to the hope we have in Jesus.
So, what is happening in the spiritual realm? The God of Angel Armies is right there, always by our side. Just as He holds the whole world in His hands, He holds our life in His hands. There is no enemy, no disease, no evil that can touch our soul or our relationship with Him, nor the promises He has given us. We rest secure and safe in the loving arms of our Father. Safe in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)
As we keep Truth front and center, fear takes a back seat. The more we fixate on God and His promises, worshiping Him for who He is and what He has accomplished for us, fear’s thrashing and spewing of threats subside and dissipate. Our nightmares fizzle and fade in the light of His glory and mighty power.
Let’s worship Him together and let the declaration of our faith in God the Almighty, the Faithful One, drown out fear.
“Whom shall I fear?
I know Who goes before Me, I know Who stands behind.
The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine.
The God of angel armies, is always by my side.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q24z4XcJxnM
And:
“I wasn’t given the spirit of fear, I was given the power of Love.
Everything I’ve been fighting against, I’m going to lift it up.
I wanna be fearless; not holding back, no backing down.
Fearless because I believe You’re with me now.
Come set me free ‘cause I want to be fearless.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqtf71mILwY
Photo by Ricardo Cruz on Unsplash
