Several years ago, I had a great fear rising in me that I was going to lose my job. I imagined the worst, and the fear began to consume me. Then I took all that I feared and went to the Lord in prayer.
In my prayer I started to imagine the worst that could happen. I could lose my job. Then lose my house. Then lose my car. Then I could go hungry, starve to death, and then go to heaven. Selah.
Consider that the worst thing that can happen to you today is that you would go to heaven.
It was interesting to me, that my job situation completely changed, and instead of being fired I was promoted. Friends, if He can save you for eternity, He can certainly help you now.
When we trust in the Lord we no longer must fear what man would do to us. Don’t you know, God is sovereign, nothing and nobody can touch you unless He allows it. And be sure that even if He allows trouble in your life, yet He is with you, and He always has your eternal best interest in mind.
Once you realize that the Lord has you, even fear will be afraid to go near you. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
Never fear that men would judge you wrongly, but that God will judge you rightly.
The Lord Jesus changed death from a finish line into a starting line. He reduced the impenetrable stone wall into but a speed bump. Never fear death, but only the Lord who will meet you there.
Don’t focus on those who come against you, but only on the Lord who goes before you. “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Growing in faith you will learn to fear men less and to fear God more.
You cannot be both faithless and fearless. Faith triumphs over fear.
Don’t fear how you might die more than how you might live.
Though they slander you, do not fear. Just as light triumphs over darkness, so the power of truth will prevail over the lies. “For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side… But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God’” (Psalm 31:13-14).
Fear is the prison that holds us hostage from the freedom we can have in the Lord.
Faith is to fear what light is to darkness.
You never have to be afraid of the dark when you are the light.
Trust is the cure for all that you fear. The more you trust in Him, the less you will worry about the world. “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:4).
You cannot have the victory without the battle. Never set your goals based on the difficulties you may face, but the promises you will walk in.
The question is not if you will survive the circumstance you are in, but will you trust Him through it. Only a trial can reveal the degree to which we trust Him.
Fear is the servant of the devil, but power and love are from the Lord. “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).
Never be so afraid of dying that you do not live.
Never fear what the Lord has for you. If the Lord is calling you to something, be sure that He will help you in it. “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).
Fear is the thief that steals your hope and leaves you in despair.
The thing you fear the most is the very thing that God wants you to trust Him with the most. He’s got you.
You will never worry what lies ahead, when at once you realize Who goes before you. “The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you…” (Deuteronomy 1:30). It is not your fight to win, but to trust in.
Don’t fear men, fear for men. They have no idea of the God who goes before you.
If you ever fear what lies ahead, simply pray to the Lord who has been there. The Lord God said, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isaiah 42:9).
The darkness of your fears diminishes in the light of His glory.
You have to go through the wilderness to get to the promise. Do not despise what you are going through, but know that He is with you. “…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Fear God, not men. Trust God, not men.
The drought reveals the roots. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Blessings to you,
Paul
All Scripture is in red and uses the NKJV (New King James Version) translation unless otherwise noted.
Loved reading this compilation of “Proverbs” very concise and supported by The Word!
Thank you so much! This is a topic that the Lord has had to do much work in me, oh, and the results have been freedom!
Thank you for this post on fear. It resonates with me because my 60 year old son is in the midst of a very stormy fear. He is a believer. It is not up to me to judge what kind, how much, when, where or whatever.
From where I sit, I could send most of the post to him. One word that I have trouble with re my son is “fear God, “fear the Lord”. My definition of the word includes awe, reverence, majesty , sovereign and such. My son equates fear with hell-fire and damnation judgement. I know the scriptures tell us we all have to face the last judgement day. Trying to balance that judgement and include the love of God can be quite a balancing act.
What am I trying to say ? I trying to answer my own question !
Son reads books re fear, anxiety, etc.; the most recent is one by Max Lacado. He reads and rereads. Max is very straightforward with his personal experience with anxiety. Son and I, both, read and reread content that is based on personal experience. There’s a real connection when someone has “been there, done that”.
May I take sentences, paragraphs that I believe really will touch his heart in this long time struggle; one that has been exacerbated by a surgery gone badly wrong that took place over a year ago and has he yet to be able to come to terms with it.
Enough. I get started and often do not know when to stop.
Thank you for your post. I take them to heart as I seek my own issue with “hearing, experiencing God speak”.
In Christ,
Carolyn
Thank you so much Carolyn, and please share any part of it that would be helpful.
You bring up a very good point about understanding fear of the Lord. Fearing God is not that He would treat us wrong, but right. That He would hold our sin against us. Yet He sent His own Son to die for us, that we might be saved forever, and not endure His wrath. So this is the healthy fear, knowing He is all powerful and can do anything, but combined with knowing He is abundant in mercy and loved us so much He did not spare His own Son.
Sometimes God allows much trouble in our life that we might seek Him even greater. We do not ever pray for trouble, we do not need to, it comes anyway. But I know in every trial there is a purpose. No suffering is without reason. We may not see it, and that is often the point, that we must through it learn to trust or heavenly Father.
Prayers for you and your son. He is most blessed to have you as his mother.
Paul
He’s an on time God. I needed this tonight my brother…I neeeeded this. Have to confront someone tomorrow…please pray for peace and understanding.
Praying for you Maria, that the Lord would go before you and would give you everything you need.
Read this word with my devotions this morning. Thank you for this very encouraging word. It has so encouraged me to keep trusting in the Lord & not fearing. After my husband of 41 yrs. passed away I went through many fearful times. The Lord has proved himself faithful & I have learned to lean on & trust Him with my life. Thanks again. Blessings this day!
Thank you Carole, your story is encouraging to me. I am always blessed to hear of those saints who have been through so much, yet have drawn ever nearer to the Lord and have found peace in Him. We can study so much about the Lord, but we learn most by going through things in which He alone can help us through. You were so blessed to of had your husband for 41 years, and I pray that now the Lord will have you. Blessings to you, and praying you would be a blessing to many.
Like you have described I am not living because I am consumed with fear. A crushing fear that I can neither listen to myself because I no the answer, or to my Lord. It has me suffering through each day.
It is pain and sickness. I have myself convinced of the worse, and that if I no that what I fear is true (being told by a doctor) that I will die from fear. Crazy I no!! I have not seen a doctor in 30 years. Yes I no this is not faith, but I just can’t get past it. I no the longer I wait the worst it will get, so now I believe it’s to late!! So I live each day waiting for the worst. It’s a phobia. It has consumed me.
I would encourage to seek godly counsel, that you would get help to work through those things weighing you down. We are not meant to do things on our own, and especially we need outside help when things consume us too much. Praying you will reach out in your area and find someone to help you.
I have had seven cancers and Iam in the hospital. I also had a lot of fear but the Lord is letting me know he is with me. Maybe he is telling me to put all my trust in him. I have. Come to ubderstand that. He is the only doctor that can heal the body and the soul. I am putting all my trust in him. I ask him to show me the way to do that. I know I am a Christian but I try to solve my problems and I can not. I have to give it all to the Lord. I used to read my Bible every day because I am A Christian but now I am trying to really get into the word. Please pray for me and all of us to really get to knoe The Lord.
Praying for you and for the Lord to bring healing form any disease and to give you strength and faith. We have a mighty God, if we would just ask Him, He is so generous to give us, and especially with an increase of faith. I am praying that you will come to know the Lord like never before. He has such great mercy. He loves you so much. He has so much to share with you. Praying for your great adventure ahead!