“Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear”. ¬ George Addair ¬
Fear is a response to perceived threat, either real or imagined. It is a feeling, and feelings are not logical but experiences. We cannot argue/reason about feelings, it’s a personal experience. ¬ Experience determines how we respond to fear ¬
Analogy 1: One person can walk comfortably on a dangerous street innocently unaware of impending danger and won’t fear. Another will walk on the same street uncomfortable and full of fear being aware of impending danger.
When a threat is real, we can say that is positive/rational fear that warns us of impending danger, so that we can take the right action. “Good fear”.
When a threat is not real but imagined, we can say this is negative/irrational fear or phobia which comes for no apparent reason. “Bad fear”.
Fear is in every person – even Goliath I believe had some fear in him, but as a valiant soldier, more so a giant he had to appear strong. Even those who appear strong have some fear in them.
It is not an offence to fear (rational fear/emotion) –The disciples were afraid when the boat was about to sink – Mark 4:35-41; Peter was afraid when he was about to sink – Matthew 14:29 (that’s why thy cried Jesus – likewise in moments of real threat we should always cry to God). Elijah as a man of faith he was and a prophet, he feared for his life and fled from Jezebel who wanted to kill him – 1 Kings 19. Gideon destroyed the altar of Baal at night because he was afraid of his family and men of the town – Judges 6:25-25.
God told Gideon to attack the Amalekites (Judges 7), but in v10 God tells him in case he felt afraid, he could take with him his servant Purah (always good to seek help/support in moments of fear); v12 shows us that the ‘enemy was so big’ – so many, thick as locusts and their camels as the sand of the sea! Gideon with only 300 men had all the reason to fear. But by faith he overcame his fear and went forward, and he felt encouraged, v15.
The bad thing is when we become captives/slaves of negative/irrational fear – always unsettled, off balance, we become susceptible to manipulations/trickeries. Scare tactics from politicians, advertisements, witches etc. causes negative/irrational fear, and we become slaves of fear.
God reminds us not to live in panic/anxiety of anything (Philippians 4:6). He knows Satan will take advantage and manipulate us. Fear hinders growth in life, and can result to laziness –
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Proverbs 26:13). He can’t venture out and work for fear of a lion which exists only in him mind.
God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and sound mind – 2 Timothy 1:7.
God knows that as humans we fear, and he reminds us always not to fear (Allow fear overrule/overshadow us) – He has redeemed us, knows us by name, he will be with us when we pass through the waters and rivers won’t sweep us nor the fire burn us or the flames set us ablaze – Isaiah 43:1-3. It is comforting to know that God is with us when we feel afraid, and we can look up to him for comfort.
When fear strikes, we should always hear that small voice of assurance – Do not fear I am with you……Isaiah 41:10; even when we pass through the valley of the SHADOW of death – Psalms 23:4.
