Fear or Faith - You Choose
Have you ever awoken from a dream that left you gripped with fear? Have you ever thought about a situation long enough where fear about what may or will happen has crept in? It is a sinking feeling. It is a feeling of hopelessness and despair. Before you know it, you are overly anxious and worried. This has happened to me many times in my life.
For me, the times when the fear creeps up the most is in financial hardship, when the income is decreased and you don’t have enough to pay for your daily/monthly expenses. For some, it may be the sickness of a loved one who just keeps getting sicker. Perhaps it is a broken relationship and you don’t see a way of it being repaired.
If we are not careful, we can get stuck dwelling on the things that we fear may happen or will happen so much that we lose hope and crawl into a deep hole of sadness or depression. This hole is meant to destroy us. It is a place that is dark and filled with hopelessness.
God says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7. Nowhere in this statement is there room for fear. Why? Because God says that we are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. If we are fearful, we can know for a fact that we have not recognized God’s mighty hand (His ability, His power, His strength, His care). Rather, we are focused on our own human condition (lack of ability, lack of power, lack of strength, lack of care) which produces fear. God says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
When we truly trust God in every condition, every circumstance, and every relationship, we don’t try to control it or figure it out. We simply hand it over to God and allow our mind, heart and actions to let go and believe in Him. This is easier to desire than to actually do. It is something we have to work on. Faith is an action. It is the action of trust. It is expecting the result that God says will be the result. God says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6.
When we pray, make our appeal, and thank Him for the result, we receive “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” and that peace “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. So how do we go about our day “expecting” the result? By focusing in on and thinking about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy.” Philippians 4:8.
What will you do today? Will you allow fear to overcome you or have faith in the true God Who loves you and cares so much for you that He delights in your communion with Him?
