Fear is something that I struggled with for a long time. I am a huge worrier which is the first cousin to fear. It can be the most insignificant thing. My mom isn’t answering her phone when she’s home alone? My mind is running to all the terrible things that may have happened to her. And pregnancy? Being pregnant was a breeding ground for fear. There are so many unknowns, so many things that you can’t control that you have to trust God and have faith to believe He will take care of.
Fear is easy. All it takes is a though for fear to sneak in. Either your own voice, the voice of someone else, or the voice of the devil saying “what if they were in a car accident?” No matter how ridiculous it may seem to those who don’t struggle with fear, to those that do it is very real. You can try to put a brave face on and remind yourself that God is in control, but if you have already given your mind over to fear it is too late.
The best thing you can do in these times is quote Scriptures. I’d like to share some of my favorite versus regarding fear.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
That is my favorite mainly because it reminds you of what God has given us to combat fear. We have His power to overcome fear. He has given His love to block out fear. A sound mind for me is the most crucial because that is where my battle with fear usually is, in my mind. In that verse God is telling us that if our minds are sound in Him and in His Word there will be no place for fear.
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
I love that this verse is full of encouragement. It reminds us to have courage and that God goes with you and will not leave or forsake you. Sometimes you just need that as a reminder when you are battling fear.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18
Finally is the most important reminder. That perfect love casts out fear. The only perfect love is from God. If we have His perfect love inside of us, we shouldn’t have fear. If fear is creeping in, it is because we have allowed a space in our hearts where God’s love should be. Usually by neglecting our relationship with him.
Faith in your Heavenly Father is truly the only thing that can help your overcome fear. I am a very independent and self-reliant person so even growing up knowing these things it too me a while to truly grasp it. For years I struggled with a heavy burden of fear. Now I honestly can’t remember how I overcame that spirit, because I do believe it was a spirit, that was in me.
I have studied the Word of God so that when I start getting those feelings again I have my “armor” to protect me. I am sure I am not the only one with this struggle and I hope that I have helped someone today.
Martina