Say Goodbye to Fear
There are times when I’m going about my day feeling pretty good about life, then without warning, a negative thought presents itself. Maybe it's a memory of something I did wrong in the past, or a memory of something someone else did that hurt me; maybe it’s a thought about some horrible future event I hope never happens; maybe it's concerning an issue I'm dealing with currently. The thought comes, and I focus on it for a moment—just long enough to cause my heart to tremble—then my thoughts move on. Though they’ve moved on, my heart remains in a tremble.
Sometimes I even forget what it was that caused me to feel so anxious, yet the anxiety remains and can plague my day.
Do you ever feel like this? This is the nature of fear. This is how the enemy attacks us and surreptitiously steals our joy, our peace, and the abundant life to which God has called us. I’ve learned that when this happens I must stop what I'm doing and remember what it was that caused me to be anxious. Why does that cause me to fear so dreadfully? I must take that thought to the Lord and force my mind to remember His promises to me. I must take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to the truth of God's word.
It's essential that I remember, "If God is for me, then what can stand against me?" and that God has great plans for my children, great plans for my life, and great plans for my family—plans that are good. God’s plans don't include shame. His plans include a radiance for our lives that will shine with the joy and peace and promise of God. He will work out everything for good. Everything that seems overwhelming and even hopeless has a purpose in God's Kingdom and will turn out for good—a greater good than any of our plans could ever have created. It's always been so; why would it be any different for this fearful scenario I am imagining?
The Lord will fulfill His purposes for me. He is able to keep me and my family from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy (Psalm 138:8, Jude 1:24).
The Lord does not want us to live under the fear of the past, the present, or the future. His desire is that we live free from fear and anxiety, resting in the precious peace, joy, and faith He provides for us. This is what He died to give us. Let us not forfeit our inheritance: the peace that was purchased for us on the cross.
Let’s seek the Lord for deliverance from all our fears. If we ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us and answers us according to His will. It is not His will that we live in fear, for He commands us not to fear. As we look to Him, He will make us radiant, shining the light of Jesus in the darkness. We need not fear for we will not live in shame, but in the confidence that God has given us as children of the Most High God.
So say goodbye to fear. Be filled with His radiance and joy, instead!
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5
