Fearless Faith – Face Your Fears
- Vernita "Neat" Simmons
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Fears! We all have had fears at one time or another. But what exactly is fear? According to Bible Hub, fear, in the biblical context, is a complex emotion that can denote both a reverential awe and a distressing anticipation of danger or pain. It is a multifaceted concept that appears throughout Scripture, reflecting both the human experience of fear and the fear of the Lord, which is considered a virtue. (1)
Dear One, we have two specific types of fears, which we experience. One is a virtue and is beneficial for us, while the other can do us harm, and we must overcome it. The reverential fear of the Lord involves our reverence for Him. It is our profound respect and honor to Him for who He is. It acknowledges His power and holiness, which leads us to a life of worship and obedience. At the same time, this fear is associated with His divine judgment and sovereign authority to carry out His plan. (Revelations 14:7)
However, the Bible recognizes another fear, which is the Spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God did not give us the spirit of fear. Sometimes we become afraid because of something that happened, and during those moments, we must trust in the Lord to overcome our fear. Still, sometimes, to conquer our fears, we must face them while believing that God is with us and will protect us from harm. It calls for us to rely on His power and presence in every situation. (Mark 4:40; Romans 2:5; Psalms 7:11).
Dear One, Facing your ears might mean proclaiming who God says you are.
Facing your fears may mean acknowledging that this is a battle too great to fight alone, and asking for the help you need.
Facing your fears might include trusting your heart to someone who can offer godly wisdom, gentle guidance, and encouragement to help you rise above your struggles.
Facing your fears might include finding peace after post-election stress.
Facing your fears may be conquering your fear of losing your job or social benefits you have depended on for years. Still, believing God has a supply chain that far exceeds your needs.
Before David faced Goliath, he was a shepherd boy tending to his father’s sheep. He enjoyed that service and found delight in it. So much so, when a bear and a lion took one away, David went after it and rescued the lamb. (1 Samuel 17:34-37).
It took tremendous courage to face these creatures, but his history with the Lord inspired his confidence to step out in faith. Despite this, nobody saw him as anything other than a lad tending to those sheep. Even when God sent Samuel to Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king, nobody even considered David. (1 Samuel 16). He was nobody important. Maybe you feel that way. Unimportant. Invisible. Discarded.
Your nemesis threats sound louder than the voices who believe in you. Recall how God helped me face my fears after my fiancé stalked me. That brave stance helped me to be who I am today. Dear One, I know that living in fear is the equivalent of placing yourself in prison. However, who the Son sets free is free indeed.
So, because the Lord had already set me free, I was not about to allow this man to own me. Beloved, that is not love because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7). Love will never impose unnecessary pain and suffering on another person. So, I faced my fears, despite being scared. Guess what? When the stalker received word of the safety precautions I had taken, the stalking stopped. Today, I am Beauty for Ashes.
I am not dismissing your fears; however, the more you magnify them, the mightier they seem. God never promised a life without hardship, struggles, or pain. (John 16:33). Even Job understood that a good season does not last forever. Job 2:10-11 assures us that we should not expect days of God’s favor without experiencing some challenging times. Days of peace are not without sorrow and despair. Though he suffered greatly, he never blamed God. He never spoke against the Lord; instead, he responded with an answer that was pleasing to God. Job knew his calamities were not the result of God punishing him.
Dear One, facing your fears, as Job faced his, it helped him realize that though uncertain times may happen, their actual outcome could be beyond what we might expect. (Job 3:25). Job was in a state of deep despair. You might even see yourself in him as he voices his feelings of unfairness and questions God’s actions. Job was not saying he anticipated these afflictions because of his prosperity. However, because they were anything beyond what he imagined, he was overcome with fear. However, through it all, he never lost faith in God. Because of his unwavering faith in God, he grew in deeper intimacy with the Lord and profound knowledge of who He is. Then, the Lord blessed him with double for all his trouble. (Job 42:1-10)
What do you do when you know misfortunes may happen, but God allows something that is beyond what was possible? In his human nature, Job responded with fear and anxiety. Still, after this insight and praying for his friends, the Lord restored Job twice as much as he ever had. Even his brothers, sisters, and friends blessed him with generous gifts. Likewise, Beloved, like Job and David, you continue to trust God no matter what and leave the outcome in His hands. Your latter will be greater despite all the trouble you went through.
Beloved, may this song, I Will Fear No More by The Afters, stir your heart to trust God in the toughest season.
TIME FOR REFLECTION: Why might someone blame God for their misfortunes? How can you convince them that such events are not God’s fault?
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