What are your fears? If someone asked you this question, you’d probably wonder if they were inquiring about the larger-than-life fears or the spider-type fears. The truth is, those larger-than-life fears are a lot harder to vocalize.

What Fear Does To Us

Even as adults, we may still have fears that are either holding us back or pushing us into things we don’t want to do. If we identify our fears, it will help us overcome them. By applying what God says about fear, we stop those fears from controlling us. By facing our fears, we can stare down the enemy and take back the moments he’s stolen from us. In so doing, we are able to live courageously, especially over this battle within our minds.

What types of things has fear pushed you into? For many people, it could be a relationship. Maybe the fear of rejection allowed you to settle, and so you’ve found yourself in a stagnant relationship. Living comfortably is not God’s best for you; He wants someone who will propel you forward, not just stand idle while you drag them along. That fear plays into relationships; it plays into life.

Facing Your Fears

What if we actually did everything we said we wouldn’t? What if we faced our fears and shook them out of us by actually doing the things we said we’d never do?

• “I’ll never willingly do public speaking. In fact, I’m dropping out of that class, because I found out we have to do weekly presentations.” Do it anyways.
• “I’ll never actually worship God the way I want to because people might be staring.” Do it anyways.
• “I’ll never run that marathon.” Run.
• “I’ll never go overseas and minister to a lost and broken people.” Do it anyways.

We need to stop with “I’ll never” and willingly chase after the “Yes I can, because my God is able.”

Trust In Him

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?  The Lord is with me; he is my helper.” Psalm 118:6-7

If we apply what God says about fear, fear would be eradicated and it would have absolutely no power over us. It would be diminished into what it is, which is nothing but a strategy of the enemy. God tells us to not fear, but to take courage. He says perfect love casts out fear, and that He is love. He tells us to not give up and to press on. That’s because our all-knowing God knows that fear is going to come in numerous forms to take away what He actually intended for us.

By facing our fears, we’re able to take back the moments the enemy stole from us by instilling fear. God’s purpose is still there for us. Satan, however, is in the business of stealing, killing and destroying, and one sure way to do that is to implement fear; that is what the enemy relishes in. But God, being sovereign, holy and good, is fighting for us.

What if we began to imagine that? God of the universe and Satan of the abyss, both fighting for you? Except it’s not like a tug-a-war, God is bigger than that. We know that God wins, but is that an excuse to live in the grip of fear until the rapture finally comes? No. It means to have the victory now, in this moment, and to take your life back from the hands of fear in order to live what God has so wondrously planned for your life on earth today. It’s being bold in the moments you feel like cowering. Allow God to do the rest.

“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

You may also be interested in Why A Test Of Faith Is Something To Be Thankful For