In Genesis 32 Jacob was afraid because of circumstances and for his own well-being. Jesus said that eventually there would come a time in which men’s hearts would fail them for fear. Surely, fear is not to be accepted as part of a believer’s life. If that were the case, when we are told to cast all our cares on Jesus, it would be in vain. We’re not talking about normal fear such as a reaction to a wild animal. We are talking about living in a constant state of fear, even though we are believers. Consider with me what fear does to a person.
Fear makes men act differently. It could be that they act out of desperation, not in a rational manner. It could be that fear causes a person to act in such a manner that they are out of control. In such a case, people become reactionary agents instead of being actuary. Fear can also make us out of reach by other people causing us to be living in a lonely existence.
Fear is not factual. It depends on suppositions and makes assumptions. Of necessity, fear operates within the realm of ignorance. It charges an unnecessary price such as depression, anxiety, and strange dependencies.
Fear is not a part of God’s plan. This is plainly stated in Second Timothy 1: 7. A fearful person is also a humiliated person such as a beggar who must kneel before the king. This is opposite of what it should be as a Prince standing before his kingly father. If we are going to fear, it would degenerate us into a state of being a victim. And very likely take us deeper into sin. The plain fact is that we cannot have faith and fear at the same time. Like other spiritual matters, to not fear is a decision.
It is evident that a deeper walk with God will challenge our fear and bring peace. The only kind of fear that God expects of us is a kind in which we are in awe of Him, and sometimes that is translated in the Bible as fear. We must reexamine our emotional life so that we know God is in control of our inmost experiences, our inmost emotions.
Jesus famously said it in Mark that we should not be afraid. So, in seeking him let us also seek a deeper spiritual life. It includes victory. This means a change of attitude and thinking about ourselves and about God. We say we believe God. And believe in God. If that is truly so, let’s allow our thinking to become peaceful and joyful.
Christian Writer 