Responding to Fear
Recommended Reading: Numbers 13-14 | Isaiah 41:10 | Proverbs 9:10
Who among us hasn’t experienced fear? It is a very common emotion that runs rampant throughout the world.
We know that the Word tells us that God “…has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) This doesn’t mean that God hasn’t given us the spiritual wherewithal to discern a threat from a safe scenario. Fear is inevitable but faith should be our response.
Fear is present in our lives at different levels and in different situations. It is a natural part of our lives and if we respond to fear in the right way, we can learn, grow, and even be saved from harm. However, if we respond incorrectly, it can cause great suffering.
In my childhood, I knew an older gentleman that couldn’t talk due to throat cancer. He owned a beautiful German shepherd for his protection and companionship. We would sit outside my grandparents’ grocery store, where I would pet his dog and talk with him while he would write notes back to me. This was a good man and a good dog, so there was no fear. One day, seemingly out of nowhere, his dog attacked me, biting me on the face. It wasn’t just a little nip; it was a bite that caused a trip to the ER and several stitches.
As a child, this incident was traumatic and caused a lot of issues through my life that I would have to deal with. These issues included insecurities of friendships, my looks due to the scars, and fear of larger dogs. This one incident created an unhealthy fear that for years would plague me. It caused me to relinquish the confidence, trust, and joy I needed for many situations.
I have so many memories of stolen joy due to fear connected to this one moment in my life.
In another fear-filled situation, I was headed to the woods as I often do, for a hunt early in the morning before sunrise. I generally knew where I was headed, so I didn’t use a light, plus my older brother always told me I would scare the deer off with a light. Now I’m convinced he was just torturing me as a younger brother!
At any rate, that’s how I still do it. On this particular hunt I sat on the ground with my back against a stump. Right before shooting light I began to feel uneasy, like I was being watched. So I honed in on the sounds of my surroundings. I began to hear some leaves quietly crackling under what seemed to be very slow methodical steps. I began to get a little fearful of what it could be. Of course I was hunting in the notorious woods of the Boggy Creek monster! (Just google it.)
I started to position my body to turn around to see what it was. As I slowly turned, there it was! I had reason to feel uneasy. A very large coyote had been slipping up on me. At this point he was about 15 yards away. So I jumped up, faced towards him and shot as he ran. I don’t think I hit him but he did leave expediently.
If I would have sat in my fear, not facing it, I have no doubt this coyote would have attacked me. This did not change my mind in the way I hunt. I still sit on the ground most of the time and don’t use a light for the most part. I didn’t let my fear ruin my future.
In both of these situations fear was the driving emotion. The first, an unhealthy fear that stole joy for many years, and the second, a healthy ability to discern the danger that saved me from attack. I could have allowed my fear to stay perched in my mind, whispering its ugly thoughts before every one of my future hunting expeditions, but I chose to put my trust and faith in God.
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in You. In God, whose word I praise; In God I have put my trust; I shall not fear. What can mere man do to me?” Psalms 56:3-4 AMP
This verse, as many do, reminds us that we should place our trust and faith over our fear. The things we often most fear are the topical opinions of people around us. But as we follow Christ we are to place this and all fears on the Lord.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 AMP
Fear creates disobedience. This is why the Israelites wandered for forty years. Even though they knew the promise they would not trust and obey God due to the negative reports from the spies found in Numbers 13-14. Their fear promoted disobedience, which in turn removed the joy of an entire generation! Their sin wasn’t that they felt fear, it was that they chose to obey it instead of the promise of God.
The Israelites feared the unknown, the giants, and the strength of their enemies.
Due to the report of 10 out of 12 spies they deemed themselves inadequate to face those living in the Promised Land. Out of that generation only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the Promised Land due to their faithfulness and positive report. They encouraged the people to trust God’s promise that they would conquer the land. Even though the fear was present they trusted God and after seven years, entered into the Promised Land.
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10
Within the callings of our lives, be them large or small in our eyes, we will be confronted with some sort of fear. Let’s remember to take God’s promises to heart and to place our cares and fears upon the Lord.
Carry out your calling, someone is depending on it.
Unhealthy fear will destroy courage and distort vision!
Fear (reverent respect of God’s holiness) of God is protection for the soul.
Don’t allow an unhealthy fear to keep you from your promised land.