Did you fear something this week? This month? This year? Have you felt any type of fear lately? Perhaps fear of going to a new place or meeting new people. Maybe you feared confronting someone with a problem. Maybe you feared as a result of watching a scary movie or being startled by something unexpected. Maybe you fear the future because things aren't going as you planned. I dare say, we humans fear in some way every single day.
I want you to think about fear for a minute. If I say, "Fear" to you, what is your first reaction? Maybe you feel guilty for having any fear. Maybe you're in denial and won't admit your fears. (I won't believe you.) Maybe you shy away from even the word for "fear" that you'll have to face your fear. Hmmm.
Let me tell you a few things about fear.
Fear is real.
Fear is not to be feared.
Fear wants to control you.
Fear causes unnecessary guilt.
Fear has already been conquered.
Think about fear in the Bible. When the angel came to Mary, the mother of Jesus, what's the first thing he said to her?
"Fear not..."
Why did he say that?
When the angels appeared to the shepherds the night of Jesus' birth, what did they say first?
"Fear not....."
Why go there? Who was even talking about fear?
Throughout Israel's history, what is one thing that God repeated to them over and over?
"Fear not....."
King David, the great warrior, prayed not to be relieved of his enemies, he prayed to be relieved of his fear of his enemies. This is huge.
Fear is not a planned response to anything. I highly doubt anyone wakes up in the morning and says, "Oh, I'm going to fear this and that today. I'm going to respond in fear to anything questionable that comes my way."
No! We don't do that. But we do fear. Fear is a reaction, not a planned response. Therefore, the guilt you may have that accompanies your fear is misplaced guilt. Guilt is actually part of fear and fear uses guilt as a vehicle to get a stronger hold on you.
Proverbs 3:25 says, "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it comes."
Ok, for God to tell us to not be afraid of sudden fear, He's acknowledging that we have sudden fear. Our fears are never a surprise to our God. He also says, "when" not "if" it comes. Ok, then, there is no doubt; it's coming. And He tells us we don't have to be afraid of it when it does come. Talk about a great heads-up! Praise be.
If you're struggling with fear, and guilt as a result of your fear, struggle no more. Jesus Christ conquered fear on the cross of Calvary and HE tells us that we don't have to be afraid of fear. Fear, and all its trappings, is gone forever.
Praise be! Because of this, we can live fearlessly.
I've had a lot to fear in my life. Read my story of fear here and you will know exactly how God took my fear and why my fear has always been very afraid to return.
~Tricia
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