“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, Christian Standard Bible).
One of the strangest conversations I’ve had was with a lady I’ll call Kathy, who seemed rather aloof and difficult to get to know. In trying to come up with a topic to break the ice and hopefully engage her, I inquired, “Have you gone on vacation yet this year?” This seemed a simple question, but her response startled me. “No, I’m saving all my vacation time for when I get cancer.” Did I hear that correctly?
Eventually, Kathy and I did become friends, and I learned a little more about her story. Her mother had died of cancer in her early forties, an age Kathy was now approaching. Because of this, Kathy had developed an overwhelming fear the same would happen to her. Fear convinced her she would die young.
Perhaps Kathy’s fear was an extreme form, but it kept her from enjoying life in the present. Fear brings inner turmoil and robs us of peace. We must not allow the voice of fear to drown out the voice of faith. It’s possible to banish fear from our lives with God’s help. When we look at His Word, we discover what fear is and what it is not.
Fear comes from Satan, not God.
The father of lies is the one who whispers those fearful thoughts in our ear. God’s voice carries a message of love and power. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment” (II Timothy 1:7, CSB).
We do not face our struggles alone.
It doesn’t matter who or what comes against us, God is there. “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6, CSB).
God’s love is stronger than any fear.
God is perfect love. Fear and God’s love cannot coexist. Fear must leave. “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35, 37, CSB)
The closer we draw to God, the less fear controls us.
His love surpasses anything we face. “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love” (I John 4:18, CSB).
God declares we belong to Him.
When we remember the tremendous investment He made to redeem us, we realize He will always come to our assistance. “Now this is what the LORD says—the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel—‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1, CSB).
What is fear saying to you today? You can silence it and regain peace in your life through the power of God?
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (Psalm 56:3, CSB).
Prayer: Lord, I do want to place my complete trust in You, regardless of any situation I face. I know fear cannot exist when Your love is present. If I fill my mind with thoughts of You and hide Your Word in my heart, I can conquer any fear the enemy tries to put in me. With Your help, I am victorious.
Comments are closed.