As a pastor, I have learned over the years that when people are afraid, they tend to do things they would not normally do. They are tempted to fight their perceived threats or to flee their circumstances. As Bible readers and followers of Christ, we are called to overcome the things that want to make us afraid. I recently saw a social media post that stated that the phrase “do not be afraid” appears 365 times in Scripture. What a good reminder that God wants us to overcome fear every day of our lives. This would be an impossible task on our own, but God promises to help us overcome the different kinds of fears that want to rob us of our joy in the Lord. Let’s look at a few examples together.
Fear often comes from uncertainty about the unknown in our future. It’s natural for young people to be concerned about their future, since most of their life has yet to be lived. I’m reminded of Joshua standing at the Jordan River, looking over to the other side. God wanted him to lead His people over the Jordan and into battle against the nations of Canaan. Can we imagine the thoughts and feelings Joshua would have had looking over that river, not sure what he was about to face, or how he was going to do everything God expected of him? God saw his uncertainty and said to him in Joshua 1:5-7a: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous.” God promised to be with Joshua and help him overcome the unknown battles he was about to face. If you’re a child of God through Jesus’ salvation, God promises to help you overcome any unknown challenge that might be coming your way.
Some people are concerned about finding and keeping a job. Many people these days are being laid off or being asked to work less hours. Young people are especially vulnerable because they are new to the job market and are often the first ones to be let go. Employment uncertainty can make us fearful. Satan plays with this fear and tries to burden us with a weight that we were never meant to carry. He wants us to forget that God is our Provider who promises to take care of us. Jesus says in Matthew 6:30-34, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” God is asking us to bring our worries to Him, to place Him and His work first in our lives, and to trust in His perfect provision for each day.
Fear is also a fruit of sin in one’s heart. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they hid themselves from the presence of God (Genesis 3:8). When asked by God why they were hiding, they blamed it on their nakedness. But in reality, they were afraid to be in God’s presence with sin in their hearts. They knew they were unworthy and were fearful of punishment. God is the Great Judge. There is only one thing that can get rid of this kind of fear, and that God’s love. John writes in 1 John 4:17-19, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” Because God loves us, He gave His Son for us. Because Jesus loves us, He died for us. Because the Holy Spirit loves us, He wants to fill our lives and help us to live holy lives. Once we have accepted God’s love in Jesus’ forgiveness, and have experienced His cleansing, this fear of judgement is removed, and is replaced with peace. Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
In this uncertain time that we live in, Satan wants to rob our hearts of the peace and love of God, by sowing fear. We cannot allow him to do this. The Lord is with His people, and He promises to remain with us, no matter what comes our way. Let’s trust in His provision, and root ourselves deeply in His love and peace.
David Knelsen
Hamilton, ON
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