"Power Over Fear"

So many things make us afraid, and all of us can relate to the terrible feeling in the pit of one's stomach as the heart beats loudly and a thousand and fifty "what if" worse case scenario thoughts fly through the mind when fear creeps up behind us.   

Why is fear so awful and scary, and how can we make it go away? Fear is often paralyzing because we are not in control of the situation. The scary noise could be a robber, or just the wind blowing differently against your house. But you don't know which it is, and your hopes that it's just the wind won't affect reality. You may have studied your brain out for tomorrow's test, but what if the teacher asks that one question that you just couldn't pound into your head? It's out of your control, and the not knowing part makes it all the more agonizing.   

How can we overcome fear and not let it have power over us when we feel goose bumps shivering up the spine? There was a man a long time ago who was often in life-threatening situations. The ruler of his country hated him and tried his hardest to kill him. One time, our friend was hiding out in a cave when the king himself, with his full body guard and best soldiers, came to sleep in the very same place  --And they were blocking the only way in or out of the cave! Imagine how scary that must have been for David. The guy who is seeking your life and wants nothing more than to kill you himself is camping out right in front of you! But David didn't freak out. He didn't even hide under his blanket. Instead, he prayed.   

David knew that God is more powerful than even earthly kings. He knew that God had a plan for his life, and David's future was God's responsibility. So instead of searching for his baseball bat to hit the bad guy, David cried out the One who is bigger than anything that can harm us. This is some of what he said to God, "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. . .I cry out to God most high, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness. . .My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. . .For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (From Psalm 57)

David got rid of his fear by placing his life in God's hands. My heart would have been jumping out of my skin in that situation, but David said, "My heart is steadfast. . .For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness stretches to the skies."   God's love is greater than our fear.

Think of the thing that freaks you out the most; God's love for you is bigger than that. The first step, then, in dealing with fear, is knowing that God loves you and He has a special design and purpose for your life. God is not looking for ways to blast you with lightning. Instead, He is calling to you in the midst of your frightening circumstances, and it is His love for you that gives you power over your fears.   

But that power can only be used as you trust God with your life. When you are able to grasp that the God of the universe loves YOU, and has the very best for your life, then fear no longer has any power over you.

The Apostle Paul explains it like this in his letter to the Romans,   "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose. . .What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? . . .Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (From Romans 8)

God's love is the hugest, most powerful force in the world, and not even your greatest fears becoming reality can separate you from His love. So when fear twists your stomach into a knot, raises the goose bumps on your arms, and threatens to send you scrambling under your bed, stop for a moment. Don't let fear master you. Your heart can be steadfast because God's love surrounds you with constant faithfulness. He is with you in every circumstance to work His perfect will in your life, so that you can be more than a conqueror.

God delivered David from the hand of King Saul, and David himself eventually became king. But that was only after David had placed his life in God's hands and trusted God with his terrifying situations. It is through the power of God's love that fear loses it's hold on you.