Tuesday, March 8, 2016
I was speaking to a young Christian recently who confessed she was afraid that certain things that troubled her in the past would reappear in her life. I also sensed that, in her mind, if fear resurfaced in her life it was a sign to her that she was still not complete in Christ. In case some of you may have a similar situation, I want to remind you of the same truth I shared with her.
There are two kinds of fear. One is normal, and all people, Christians included, deal with it to a certain degree on a daily basis. The second type, the one that keeps people from performing common and necessary things, is not from God. Let me give you a simple example: Like some of you, one of my biggest natural fears is going to see the dentist but thought I fear it, I go see him whenever it is necessary. On the other hand, if it was a spirit of fear I was dealing with, I would wait until I could no longer stand the pain and then when I did go, my entire experience would be filled with terror. The apostle, Paul, referring to this type of fear, wrote: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Those who have the second type of fear I mentioned need to seek help for it, especially from God.
Don’t be afraid of being afraid and don’t let a spirit of fear keep you from enjoying the peace in your heart and mind God wants you to have. As a child of God, you have all the grace and strength at your disposal to tackle any kind of fear that confronts you. Trust in God and in His promises. If you still have some trouble with fear, get closer to God, read your bible, pray often, and stay in close fellowship with Him every day. When you do, fear will not be a problem in your life.
Memory verse for the week: (Psalm 118:6) “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
