Fear must go
Fear grips us whenever we believe that apart from, or in spite of, our best efforts, something undesirable is going to happen and we can’t stop it. Sometimes fear is irrational, and sometimes it’s rational. But no matter what kind of fear it is, it always affects us.
Fear is a big deal in the story of us and God. In Scripture, the commandment repeated the most is the commandment to fear not. Someone added these up, and apparently there are 366 “fear nots” in the Bible — one “fear not” for every day of the year — including Leap Year. Plus, there are a lot of related directives such as “Do not be afraid,” “Take courage,” and “Take heart.”
The command to “fear not” fills Scripture — and we’ve got to ask why this commandment is so widespread.
The answer must be that a lot of us have a lot of fears. Fear is a giant. One of the most common giants that must fall. Fear can taunt us and harm us. Fear can get a foothold in our lives and begin to dominate us. Fear can demoralize us and ultimately diminish God’s glory in our lives. It never diminishes God’s glory within God Himself, because God’s intrinsic worth cannot be changed. But the way we reflect God’s glory gets diminished. The way we show the world who God is and the way we show ourselves who God is — that’s what is lessened.
Fear doesn’t always look like fear.
And this is where this giant gains a buy-in from huge amounts of people. Sometimes fear is flat-out terror. It’s shake-in-your-boots fright. But at other times this giant exhibits itself less overtly. It shows up as anxiety or nervousness or worry or stress or dread or tension or stomach problems. Fear chews away at our lives and erodes our sense of confidence and well-being. It robs us of sleep and rest. Fear blinds us and steals our praise.
Fear comes from our conditioning.
Some people were raised in an environment of fear and worry.
Fear comes from our concealing.
Any time we conceal something major under the hood of our lives, fear is allowed to flourish. This is the pattern: We make mistakes. We sin. But we don’t confess. Mostly because we feel embarrassed. Or we feel ashamed. Or we don’t want to be thought of as anything less than perfect. Concealing will drive us crazy. Mistakes and sins and imperfections were never meant to be bottled up. We need to shed those feelings of impending doom at the foot of the cross.
Fear comes from our controlling.
Some people want to control everything. The outcome of circumstances, the outcome of conversations, the outcome of other people’s lives. They soon realize that much of life can’t be controlled — particularly how other people act. So fear, stress, worry, and anxiety are born.
Have you been conditioned to fear, and worry all the time ?
What if the real “us” gets revealed? What if we mess up again? What will everybody think?
Are you or do you know controlling people? They try to run not only their lives but the lives of everyone around them. As a controller, you really do go crazy, because you fear all the things you can’t control. What if something doesn’t turn out the way I want it to?
Additional Reading
Isaiah 35:5 Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 41: 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your love towards me, your unfailing Love has sustained me up to this day. I believe your Word that says you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Father in Your Name I pray that every fear in all of its form will be banished and fall from my life, Any fear of conditioning, fear from canceling, and fear from controlling will not be part of my life and I will learn to trust in you with all of my heart and not always leaning on my own understanding. Help me abide in your Word, give me boldness and courage to stand on your Word and I pray that you will increase my faith in Jesus name. Amen