for when we fear something

November 13, 2012 By • 5 Comments
Send to Kindle

I used to be afraid of the dark. If I came home alone at night, the first thing I did was check under beds and behind curtains and in closets for…well…the “bad guy.” Though I’m not sure what I would have done had I actually found a bad guy.

One night while I washing my face — with my eyes squinting and my feet in ready-to-attack-mode should the “bad guy” sneak up from behind — every light in the house went off. GASP! After my heart started beating again, I did what any freaked-out, frady-cat would do. I screamed as loud as I could, “JE-SUS!”

Thirty seconds later, all the lights came back on. Insert hyperventilation here. I called a friend and she came over with her anointing oil — she wasn’t Southern Baptist — and we anointed every window in the house while praying over every room. Once I finally fell asleep, the fear subsided.

 

Fear says that God can't be trusted

 

Fear is…dumb. In fact I think it might be one of the primary hindrances to us as humans living in the abundance of Jesus. Remember, He promised abundance to those who believe Him. He promised life marked with peace and joy to those who take Him at His Word.

But fear convinces us in the deep down places that God really can’t be trusted. Fear in essence determines that God’s promises aren’t enough. And that’s a dangerous place for our souls to linger.

As long as we live in this world and have this flesh, fear will come. It’s the natural response to the unknown. But fear doesn’t have to be where we live. It doesn’t have to be our dwelling.

John tells us that God’s perfect love casts out fear. When we choose — by the empowering of His Spirit — to believe that God’s relentless love motivates every single thing He allows into our lives, fear has to bow down. It has no place when we abide in Him.

 

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

 

It’s so trite compared to some of the soul-crushing fears that have gripped me in my life, but that night when my lights went out was the start of a new thing in me. God convicted me that fear was ultimately unbelief, and I could never please Him if I didn’t believe Him. (Hebrews 11:6) By His grace He started me on a road to being freed from fear.

 
What has you in fear these days?
What truths of our God can you choose to meditate upon to combat those fears?

In Christ,

Lara, To Overflowing

Lara

Speaker and writer, Lara Williams ministers with a passion to see God's Word affecting the moments of our daily lives as children of the King. You can find out more about her at www.LaraWilliams.org or read her blog at www.ToOverflowing.com/about.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:
Twitter

5 Comments • Filed Under: Being a Light
  • http://joyfulmothering.net CHRISTIN

    Really needing to hear this right now. Many people know we are in the process of adoption–last night we found out we are now number 1 on the list for a referral. We are next in line to receive a child or children who need a home.

    With this, comes traveling to another country–away from my other children. Two times I’ll need to travel alone. To a foreign country where I won’t have a clue about anything, regardless of the research I’ve done. So yes, fear is something that wants to sit at the pit of my stomach during this part of the process. I must cling to His promises. Thanks, Lara. xo

    • LARA

      Oh girl! How exciting…and beautifully terrifying. I can’t imagine how you must feel but I do pray that He would faithfully whisper His truths to your spirit when the fear raises its head. Believing that He is going before and behind you, friend.

  • http://fromthealtartoforever.wordpress.com/ JAQUINN

    My goodness! I fear. I fear about my marriage (which is still so new). I don’t want to, I want to trust and believe Him, but it still creeps in! I was just praying about trusting God in everything – EVERYTHING – this morning! Truth spoken to me. Again. This message will never get old.

  • http://twitter.com/JSurprenant1223 JENNIFER SURPRENANT

    I love my God sightings like this!!! I have been gripped with fear and anxiety for 4 years. The anxiety, which is based on the general fear I have, can actually paralyze me at times. I suffered from panic attacks briefly, but got on medication and did lots of praying! So in the last couple days, Ive been telling God, “Listen, I’m done trying to do this myself. I’m done living like this. You are bigger than anything I can try, or do, or think I can do. You are my everything. So please forgive me for not giving this to you earlier, forgive me for hanging onto it with my pride and relying on only myself.” And since then, He has answered me in unbelievable ways; Through his word- I was in Psalm 27 and Isaiah 41 last night. Through a Crosswalk article that crossed my path, and now through you Lara. I really thought this anxiety was my “thorn in my side”, and perhaps it still is. But God has and always will carry me through it. And I feel that as long as I can give it to Him, and stop hanging onto it so greedily with the idea that I can fix it, all will be well.
    Thanks so much Lara for all of your words! Love you!

  • http://twitter.com/lifesurrendered MICHELE-LYN

    I understand this kind of fear. If feels like terror, and it’s tormenting. I can say for me personally, it was a stronghold. Somewhere I gave place to the enemy. I found freedom, but it was definitely a work of God. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Lara.