Fear stalks us. And when we least expect it, fear grabs us in the darkness with a relentless grip, refusing to let go or loosen its hold. Then, fearful sets in as our uninvited companion.
Fearful Lives in the What-ifs
Fear lives in the what-ifs plaguing our mind. Fear is our worst nightmare, sleepless nights refuse us any rest. Instead, fear whispers the worst-case scenarios to our heart. Afraid of the unknown, it wrestles with our spirit pinning us in a position of panic.
Fear sets in. I know it all too well. And I’m betting so do you.
Fearful Messes With Our Wellness
Fear always messes with our emotional and spiritual wellness. It happens when we face surgery like my friend, Laura. Or, when cancer pays a visit to us or a family member. When our child is bullied or a bully in our own path lurks nearby. Or, if our child lost her way and we fear for her well-being.
Likewise, with job loss, financial woes or fill in the blank with your most troubling fears—fearful terrorizes.
Fearful Makes a Terrible Co-pilot
It even rides side-saddle with me when driving in inclement weather. You see, once upon a time an ice-and-snow-covered highway, on top of a mountain, spun me into circles then slid me into a ditch. That day fear slipped into my passenger seat, buckling in for the long-haul. Ever since, I battle anxiety like a dreadful enemy while driving during the least hint of snow or heavy rain.
Yet, fear is a terrible co-pilot in life. One we need to kick to the curb.
[bctt tweet=”Fear is a terrible co-pilot in life. One we need to kick to the curb. @FridayKaren #fear #blog” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Fearless Calls Us By Name
Hallelujah, there is hope! In Isaiah 43:1, the Lord reassured Jacob and us. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
While fear wants us to believe God has abandoned us, the Lord never leaves us as Deuteronomy 31:6 affirms. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Fearless Lives in Christ
God is not the source of fear. Instead, it originates from the enemy of our souls. Look at 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” So, if God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, then it comes from Satan. The Scriptures are clear.
God gave us a spirit of power and love and self-control. And notice the verb gave is past tense. We already possess power over fear, we just need to access it. Fearless in Christ, we always defeat fearful. Always.
[bctt tweet=”God is not the source of fear. Instead, it originates from the enemy of our souls. @FridayKaren #fear #blog” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Fearless Wins Our Victory
In 2 Timothy 1, Paul reminds us of additional truths confirming our power, love, and self-control from God: a sincere faith (verse 5), the gift of God (verse 6), an unashamed testimony in whom we have believed (verses 8-9), and a deposit entrusted to us through the Holy Spirit (verses 12-14).
Each of these things in our spiritual arsenal help us overcome fear. We place our faith in Christ. Because fear is shaky ground. And we know who we believe. Because fear is a liar.
Fearful or Fearless?
The enemy makes us fearful in the what-ifs or the unknown. But Christ makes us fearless when our faith and hope rest in Him.
We choose fearful or fearless. The choice really is ours.
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Amazing that we have the option of choosing a sound mind when fear comes calling!
I’m no heroine, so I know this is ALL of grace!
My closet holds plenty of heroine capes, Michele. The problem lies in how none of them really possess any power over anything, much less fear. Strive daily to let my faith and hope rest in Christ.
I had a similar driving experience with pouring rain coming down so hard, I couldn’t see. Here in eastern TN, sometimes the side of the road drops off steeply with no guard rails, so I didn’t dare pull over when I couldn’t see where I was going. I was shaken for hours afterward. But instead of remembering that horrible experience, I need to focus on the fact that God protected me through it and got me safely home.
Yes, that’s often true of the roads where I live as well. I live in east TN Barbara, Johnson City. Where are you?
Glad you’re learning to focus on how God was with you and protected you…a lesson for us all.
Karen,
I love how you looked at the tense in Timothy 1:7. God GAVE us a not a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind. That power and fearlessness is right there…ripe for the claiming. I admit to not claiming that power and letting the enemy get to me. Joining with you in being faith-filled not fear-filled. Let’s keep kicking the enemy to the curb. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, I love those verses containing promises of God that relay truth in past tense. It means the victory is already won. So it’s really up to us to claim the power in our lives and overcome the grip fear has on us!
Oh, Karen! How I know the truth behind these powerful principles! I used to be a slave to fear! Thank God that He is the steady Rock That I can anchor my heart to when fears threaten to steal my peace..
Thank you, sister, for this wonderful reminders!
Patricia, I was right there with you, friend. And have to constantly maintain my freedom in Christ from the bondage of fear. Like you, I’m so thankful for Jesus, the rock of our salvation!
Fear is something I have always struggled with. I see where I’ve made progress and other places I have a long way to go. But I don’t do the work alone. God is there the whole time, full of grace.
Rebecca, that seems to be the way fear works and how the enemy battles against us with this horrible weapon in his artillery! But, praise God, we have our own weapons of warfare in Jesus and we can be overcomers and gain the victory!
sharing an older post I wrote about fear, quoting from John , #35. Thanks for the opportunity to share.
You’re welcome, Aletha. Hopeful all this writing we do on fear sinks deep into our heart on how to really, once and for all time, kick fear to the curb!
Karen, I love how you personified Fearless and that He calls us by name. Fear can certainly paralyze me when I listen to it. Loved the Scriptures you shared.
Thank you, Debbie. So thankful Fearless is our close and trusted friend!
Fear lives in the what-ifs. That is very true for me. laurensparks.net
Lauren, this has also been true for me. Grateful we are fearless when we place our hope and faith in Jesus alone!
Fear, worry and anxiety seem so natural that we hardly even think of them as sin issues and the opposite of faith and trust in God. Thanks for reminding us of why it’s so important to stay focused on Him.
I agree, Donna. We know what the Bible says, yet, it’s still so easy and like you said, “natural,” to become enslaved to fear as our unwelcomed companion in life. But, no more! Praying we all learn to trust in the power of our Savior and how God is in control.