What Is Your Fear?
“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Everyone experiences fear in their life. The dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Top Fears in the U.S. (2020/2021):
Corrupt government officials: 79.6% of Americans reported being “Afraid” or “Very Afraid” of this.
People they love dying: 58.5%
Loved ones becoming seriously ill: 57.3%
Pandemic or major epidemic: 55.8%
Economic/financial collapse: 54.8%
Cyber-terrorism: 51%
Not having enough money for retirement. 55%
I've learned that it's very important to understand what fear is and how it works against us because if we don't, it can keep us from becoming what God created us to be, which means we won't fulfill our purpose in life. The best definition that I have ever heard for FEAR is “allowing someone or something to control you”.
Fear is a common theme in the Bible, mentioned over 500 times throughout scripture.
Fear is a tool the devil uses against us to make us miserable and destroy our lives. It begins as a thought and then creates emotions that can rule us. It often becomes a strong, intense feeling that tries to move us to take a foolish action or tries to prevent us from doing something that would be good for us. Fear is a common way that Satan attacks people's lives; it is one of his main wiles he uses to manipulate people and keep them out of God's will. God in His Word provides valuable instruction about fear.
Joshua 1:9 - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Hebrews 13:6 “So, we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
1 John 4:18 - “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Our fears can cause us to trust in things, people, places, idols, etc., instead of trusting in God who created and breathed life into us. Remember, the Bible encourages us not to fear, and it’s filled with stories of people who overcame their fears.
The term “fear not” or similar verbiage is stated in the Bible 365 times. According to the most-downloaded Bible app YouVersion, installed on over 500 million devices, the most shared Bible verse of 2022 is the same as 2020 during the rise of COVID. It also occupied the top spot in 2018. Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will also help you; I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
We, born-again Christians, need to fear God and Him alone. Let Him control us by His indwelling Holy Spirit with His love and His best for us. Proverbs 3:7 “Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil”. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” Proverbs 14:26-27 “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death”.
Worldly fear can be crippling and push the most composed people into states of utter discomfort and uncertainty, but God reminds people through His Word that because of eternal salvation available through trusting in Jesus, there is nothing in this temporal world to fear. Even with death or failure, which are prevalent fears among born-again Christians who believe in Heaven and know that God loves them despite mistakes they make, Jesus is our Savior and Lord who desires to remove any and all worldly fears.
Psalm 34:4 - “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
