What is Fear?

What is Fear?

Some days are harder than others. Some days you just wake up to battle fear. Some days that feeling might try to consume you. Nauseous, tired, unable to function and wondering why you are battling what once was defeated. The enemy knows our weaknesses and exactly how to pull us down. 

Whether my fear is justified is not the point. Faith is believing despite the circumstances. I could have a knife to my throat and still stand without fear if I have but the tiniest grain of faith that God has me. Unfortunately yesterday was not a day in which I was able to stand in faith. I wanted to. I have faced many of my fears. I have overcome them through Christ and I have grown so much. I did not think it was even possible to feel so afraid again. But there I was. Afraid. So afraid that I was nauseous and unable to eat for a day and a half. 

Attacks happen. So what do we do when the hooks of the enemy are in so tight that prayer doesn’t seem to be helping? When listening to praise isn’t helping and the fear is making it hard to breathe, let alone sing? What do we do when our faith falters?

A friend told me that when he needs answers, he keeps pressing in and he doesn’t stop until he finds what he needs. He’ll pray, search the Word, listen to podcasts and watch videos. He’ll do whatever it takes.  So, I took to my journals, old and new. I pulled out my concordance. I looked at devotionals on fear. I did research online and looked up verse after verse. Would you like to know what was in an old journal? It was literally everywhere. “Do Not Be Afraid!” So we have this fear and we know God is saying “Do Not Be Afraid”, but how do we stop fear?

I have learned (thank you pastors Andy and Kyle), that dissecting things helps. Defining them and breaking down what they are. So what is fear? The Oxford Dictionary defines fear as: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. Fear is actually mentioned so much in the Bible that the Strong’s Concordance has 2 pages full of references to fear and all variations of the word. So God clearly wants us to know what fear is and how to combat it and when it is healthy. 

Fear is healthy when it prevents us from doing something that would harm us. For example we tell our children, “Don’t run out into the street!”, because we don’t want them to get hit by a car. Looking before crossing a road or going to get a ball that rolled into a street is a healthy fear. But if our child refused to ever go into the street or cross a road because they were so terrified of getting hit, well then they might lead a very stressful life. They might lose their toy or not be able to walk to school. Fear is unhealthy when it causes us stress and anxiety; when it causes us to change our behaviors or routines in ways that are not beneficial. 

So what causes fear? Fear can be caused by many things.  Here are some examples. Disobedience and impending judgment: I stole something so now I am afraid I will go to jail. Persecution or trauma: I was abused so now I am afraid if I get in a relationship then it will happen again. Events of nature: A tornado was spotted near my home so I am afraid my home will be destroyed. Suspicion: My friends have hurt me in the past so when I see my new friends whispering alone, I suspect they are talking bad about me. Uncertainty: I lost my job, I have a family to provide for, I am afraid I won’t find something fast enough or at all.  Final events and death: My parents died so now I am afraid everyone I love will leave me. 

Unhealthy fear can have many negative side effects. In addition to preventing us from going about our normal lives it can cause anxiety, anger, depression, paranoia and jealousy. When it is bad enough it can cause phobias and lead to paralysis. It can also prevent us from sharing our testimony about God. 

Ultimately, fear boils down to a lack of faith. You may be thinking, “but I have faith. God did this or that and I know He is with me.” I too have faith but yesterday I was sick with fear and paranoia. I let someone into my home and my instincts scream that they are a pedofile. This person had been around my children. He gave his daughter electronics that we found spyware on. I received a text from him within a minute of getting home that had me convinced he had placed spyware in my home. I have faith that God will take care of my finances. I have faith that God will never leave me. I have faith that His will will be done in my life. But in that moment I did not have faith in my safety. I let fear overcome me to the point that I forgot everything the Lord had taught me. But as I pressed into God, I began to remember. And next time it will be easier to fight. I have no doubt that I will fight fear again. Satan knows my weaknesses and he watches for when I might be weak. 

So how do we fight fear? 

We take captive our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  We must take captive our thoughts. Fight against fear and negativity. Proclaim God’s promises over our lives. 

 We cast our anxiety upon Him, 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Choose joy. How many times have I been told this? I am a person who has let emotions rule me most of my life. My first thoughts on this were, “How on earth am I supposed to choose joy when I feel like crying.” Well, it’s not easy at first but then you see it work. You choose joy by actively trying to think of the good and trying to change your perspective. You choose joy and let go of your anxiety by lifting it up to God in prayer and by praising Him for all the good that He has done. 

We remember that Christ gives us Peace. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Christ wants us to be at peace and to not be afraid. He sent the Spirit to be with us always. If He is always by our side, what have we to fear? The answer is Nothing. This verse has given my great comfort over the years. Christ gives us peace. We just have to accept it. Reach out to Him. Remember His promises. Remember this promise. 

We proclaim 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.” Proclaim this over yourself. God made you to be courageous not fearful. God gives you power, love and a sound mind. A sound mind, a mind without anxiety, depression and fear. By making these proclamations we change the way we are thinking and are able to walk in God’s truth. 

 We declare God’s protection over our lives, Psalms 23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Attacks may come. In fact I know they will. I was growing, healing and managing to stay up on my spiritual mountaintop. For a while I expected to be hit. Eventually I was and it wasn’t that bad. A little dip on my mountain path and I was back at the tip. Until one day the hits came hard, fast and back to back. This is where I am battling those attacks. But I am thankful for them because God is growing me. God is giving me new revelation that I can share and I am no longer afraid to share. God is with me. He is leading me on through the struggle, through the attack and He is giving me peace. 

We take hope in the fact that God tells us He will be with us wherever we go. Joshua 1:9 “ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.” He transforms our thoughts. He takes our anxiety and our fear. He gives us peace. He protects us. He gives us hope and in proclaiming all these things we are able to walk in the truth of His promises. God loves us and does not want to harm us. 

Jeremiah 29:11 really covers fear quite well. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Do not let fear stop you today. Do let fear stop you tomorrow or the next day. Whatever your fear may be, God wants to take it from you.  Pray this with me.

Lord, today I am afraid. Today I am battling my mind. Take all my fears, my anxiety, my depression (lift up anything the fear is causing). Give me peace and increase my faith so that I may learn to trust you in this. Amen

Now I want you to take some time to read back over the verses above. Pick one that speaks to you and memorize it. Write it down and carry it with you. When you are fearful pray the verse over your life. I have also found that singing praises helps keep a multitude of things like fear at bay and helps to take captive your thoughts. So turn on your music and praise the Lord. 

My prayer for you today is that the Lord grant you freedom from fear, peace from whatever they are struggling with and hope for today and for the future.

Until next time,

Phoenix Raen