Fear

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are your own fears. ~ Rudyard Kipling

Fear is paralyzing, destructive and one of the evil one's greatest weapons. You can't live if you are living in fear. You can't fulfill God's will in your life if you are stuck in fear. I was talking with one of my mentor's last night and we were discussing how fear paralyzes us. How easy it is to become a victim of fear and not even know it. How something that may seem so insignificant could be keeping you from living out God's purpose for you.

For my dear friend, he found that his fear was actually his calling. And knowing him, I can't imagine him doing any other job than what he is currently doing. He is so perfectly suited for the job and is a daily blessing to those in he serves through our awesome God.

There are many fears; fear we aren't good enough, fear we will fail, fear of death, fear of pain... I could type for days of all the fears that exist in this world. But what is greater to talk about is the one who can conquer our fear.

Isaiah 41:10 says “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” When we fear the future Jesus reminds us that our God who is mighty and powerful cares for the birds of the air, therefore how much more will He provide for His children? “So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” Matthew 10:31.

In Psalm 56:11 the psalmist writes, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” This is how we should live our lives, through the power of trusting God. No matter what happens on this earth, the psalmist knows his God is more powerful than any fear.  Our God is bigger than any fear we may entertain.

Trusting God is not as simple as just saying I trust Him. It is a daily choice, it is knowing Him personally and choosing to walk with Him every day of your life. To put the things of this world aside and to choose God. Once you choose God and learn to put your trust in God, you will no longer be afraid of the things of this world that come against you. Whether those things be something as small as spiders or as big as cancer.

God did not create us to live in fear, rather he created us to live in confidence and to walk with the strength only He can provide. "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:25-26. If you don't know the story of Job I encourage you to open your Bible and read it. For even Job knew through all his trials that God was good when he said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” Job 13:15a.

So what is the key to overcoming fear? Total and complete trust and confidence in God. By trusting God you are refusing to give into fear, no matter how big that fear may seem. No matter how dark it may seem, you can trust God's sovereignty. This trust comes through knowing God and knowing His goodness. Things may seem their darkest at times while we walk this earth, but those who walk with the LORD don't walk in darkness. Ephesians 5:8 tells us "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."