Friday Faith Check-Up: Live Free from Fear with God!

"Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God."  - Hannah Whitall Smith

Life can be pretty scary. When we were young, and growing up in a still new and mostly unfamilar environment, there were plenty of things to be frightened of. Some were real, but most were figments of our developing perspectives of the world, and imaginations. For most, we had supportive and understanding family members who comforted and explained things to us.

As we grew into adulthood, we found there were new things to be afraid of. Responsibilities made it a little more difficult to simply shrug off these fears. Things like raising a family, mortgages, car payments, job stability made our lives more complicated. Yes, a hug and and an understanding ear are still welcome. But, the fear of life, of the unknown, is harder to simply explain away.

Fear is a constant companion throughout our lives. We can't get escape it, nor can we ignore it. It can be a teaching tool that demonstrates risks and dangers to our lives. Or, it can be a big wall that keeps us from moving forward; stunting or stifling our enjoyment of life. It may appear that there are few things we can do, other than just dealing with fear. However, we have a powerful ally in our corner who is ever ready to help us.

Earlier, I mentioned how important it was as a child to have someone who would comfort and guide you whenever you experienced fear. Usually, it was a parent, or someone older, who helped us out then. Having said that, our Lord provides this same loving and comforting feeling to us wherever we are in our lives. He offers us a life free from fear and worry.

Some might ask, "Is there a catch? What's the deal?" There is no bargaining, or fee to pay. All we have to do is learn to lean on Him (Proverbs 3:25, 26). That's it! Now, I have to say, that might sound like crazy talk to some people. Many have been on the losing end of bad relationships, or in uncomforable situations where trust and faith have been left in tattered pieces.

But, we're not talking about leaning on another "person" as we are accustomed to. This is God, we are talking about. Our Lord! And, certainly for some this is a leap of faith; letting down one's defenses, and exposing your vulnerabilities. But, that's exactly how He wants us to come to Him, as an innocent, trusting child (Matthew 18:3).

With God behind us, we have nothing to fear (Matthew 10:28-31). We never have to worry about being left alone, or abandoned in our time of need. Whatever our fears are, they can never be bigger than God. He alone provides what we need to overcome our fears, doubts, and anxieties (Hebrews 13:5, 6). God tells us to "Fear not!"

If left unchecked, fear can run rampant in our lives, causing chaos and destruction. It can lead to unfulfilled lives, and hinder our abilities to integrate socially, and grow emotionally. A fear of living is not really living, is it? God desires each one of us to live a good, Spirit-filled life without the stress that accompanies fear (Psalm 34:9).

It's quite natural to have fear. It is one of the emotions that makes us alive. Fear is also necessary in that it helps to keep us alive. As it pertains to our Christian lives, we would not become strong, mature, God-fearing Christians without fear to test our faith (1 Peter 5:7).

So, while we can't always depend on others to help us whenever fear strikes, we can always depend on God. We can always have complete confidence in our relationship with Him, Only He provides the confidence we need to face our fears head-on and conquer them (Ephesians 3:12).

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1; Romans 8:31

Prayer: Dear Lord, what can I be afraid of when You are with me? What can fear do to me, when You lead the way? May You always be my guiding light through the darkest paths, and let no fear stand in my way to You. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye