Meditation Reflection: ‘Fear and The Christian Life’ by Cecily Whiteside
For many Christians, fear is a constant companion. It’s no wonder that God told us in the Bible, “fear not,” 365 times: One for each day of the year. We must need reminding daily in order to set aside fear and embrace trust in Him. Is it a sin to be afraid? If we are commanded not to fear, are we betraying God when we feel scared? Think for a moment: If your child was frightened and you told him that everything was okay, would you be angry at him if he looked at you in disbelief? Of course not! In the same way, your heavenly Father is gentle and compassionate with you. He encourages you to put away fear, but will not be angry over your struggle to do so.
While we need not fear God’s anger concerning our fear, we should recognize that fear is a ploy of Satan to steal our joy and effectiveness. If we hunker down, cover our heads and refuse to engage in life around us, we will be unable to shine the light that Jesus bids us to spread. We become inward-focused rather than looking to share the hope that is in us.
What, then, is the opposite of fear? The answer that first springs to mind, of course, is courage. “Be strong and courageous,” says Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Courage means to continue moving forward in spite of our fear. God will bless that by going with us. Enough times of overcoming fear and it gets to be a habit. The opposite is also true, however. Saying, “no, I can’t,” gets easier with practice, robbing us of the mission that Christ has put on our life. So it’s okay to feel fear, just go forward anyway. Pray for help from God to tackle each hurdle: “I choose to trust You. I choose to get up and go. I claim the power of the Holy Spirit for today. Take my fear and grant me courage.”
Marion Day, aid to special needs children in Fountain Hills, AZ and a Christian for more than 40 years, has struggled with fear her entire life. “I can’t remember when I did not have to actively fight being afraid. Every morning I put on the armor of God before I even get out of bed. I pray through Ephesians 6:10-18 in its entirety, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation…. Then I get up and face the day. I know that God goes before me. He has cared for me each and every day of my life. He is faithful. I remind myself of that each morning.”
Joy is also the opposite of fear. Psalm 94:19 says, “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.” The joy of the Lord is a wonderful thing. When fear tries to edge out our joy, we can stand firm and say “no, I choose joy instead of fear.” God wants us to live our lives with His joy at the core of our being. Giving in to fear is allowing your joy to be robbed. Pray knowing that God wants you to claim His joy: “I want the joy You have for me. I trust that you care for me. I give You my anxiety and take Your joy.”
Peace is another truth that the Bible contrasts with fear. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) To let go of fear that can hinder our Christian ministry and keep us from living our lives fully, pray: “I claim Your peace today. You are stronger than my circumstances. You are stronger than my needs. You will not let me be overcome by my enemies.”
While God promises to walk through life with us, He does not promise an easy path. He is much more interested in our being like Jesus rather than being happy or comfortable. “In this world you will have various troubles,” He tells us (John 16:33).
Ask yourself “What am I afraid of?” Putting it into words can take away its power. Fear may be a reasonable response to what’s going on in our life, but we can also call upon our Lord and Savior for help in the face of those fears. Are you facing financial struggles, or an abusive spouse, or a wayward child, or a scary medical diagnosis. Giving them a name means they needn’t define your lives even when you are in the midst of them. We can give them to God and claim His joy, His peace and His courage in the face of troubles.
Like a frightened child, we call upon our heavenly Father. He will answer us. Our actions and attitude in this time may be the very ministry He has prepared for us. Let’s fall to our knees; pray; then get up, move forward, and be the light that shines in the midst of our circumstances. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10.)
- Cecily Whiteside