“Dr. G is the bravest man in the world,” shared my friend. My head was already starting to swell a bit as I listened to the congregation give their thoughts about me. This was my last night after ministering in this church for ten years. The Senior Pastor had scheduled this appreciation service before I left for my new ministry. My friend who had also served as my personal assistant explained why he thought I was so brave. “We were fishing several miles deep in the swamp when a huge cottonmouth moccasin swam up to the boat. I was freaking out, but Dr. G just calmly took his paddle, pushed it away, and continued fishing. He doesn’t fear anything.”
I wish I could affirm his complement, but I do have fears. No, I am not afraid of snakes although I do respect them. My fears do not normally come from tangible things around me but are internal within my thoughts. As I researched the subject of fear, I began asking myself, ‘what really constitutes fear’? Fear can be divided into two major categories: healthy and unhealthy. Being afraid of a vicious dog is a healthy fear or being fearful if you see someone running down the street shooting a gun. Healthy fear prompts us to avoid or prepare for a dangerous situation. A full discussion of fear is far beyond the scope of this limited space. I will focus on a couple of areas, mental and emotional. A practical definition of unhealthy fear can be stated as a mental apprehension that leads to negative emotions from thoughts of evil that might befall us—which might or might not occur. The majority of what we fear never happens. King David wrote that he had walked through the valley of deep darkness, but confidently added, ‘I fear no evil’ (Psalm 23:4). He had no mental apprehension or negative emotions of anything evil happening to him or his sheep. But note the key to his not fearing evil befalling him is in the second line of the verse; for You [the LORD] are with me.
Fear is a major weapon in Satan’s arsenal. He uses it like a crippling disease that can intensify and take over our life and eventually destroy us. Fear will stop a person from enjoying and living the life God has planned for them. One of Satan’s biggest lies is convincing us that God is angry or unsatisfied with us. As a result of His displeasure, He is punishing us, and will not help us. I have battled with this thought more times than I could begin counting. The Holy Spirit has helped me through scripture to understand that the Father does not punish believers. Jesus took all the punishment for our sin by His suffering and death. If not, Christ’s work would be incomplete. God will correct and discipline us, but not punish us nor stop helping us.
John tells us that perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment (1 John 4:18). This love is not my love for Him, but rather His love for me. As we come to know and to believe, the love that God has for us (v16) the more His perfect love abides in us. We may know the fact that God loves us, but we also must believe He loves us, and trust in His love. As we accept His love, the more that fear is cast out. One version translates this verse, so we know and rely on the love God has for us (NIV). As we rely on His love, the more we realize, as I have, He does not punish us. This knowledge also drives out any fear of evil from Satan. In Psalm 56:11 the psalmist writes, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Once we have learned to put our complete trust in God, we will no longer be afraid of the things that come against us.
Several surveys show that the greatest internal fear of people is failure. My greatest fear through life has been ‘me’—especially, fears I cannot control my weaknesses. These fears lead to a fear of displeasing God. I have realized that I cannot control my weaknesses. It is only by His sufficient grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in me that I find victory. Yet, the key is that I must trust Him with my weaknesses and allow Him to work.
I asked in the beginning, ‘what really constitutes fear’? In reality, fear is only a thought or reasoning in the mind that manifest in our emotions. One description of unhealthy fear is False—Evidence—Appearing—Real. Instead of allowing false evidence to control our minds, we must replace it with positive thoughts from God’s word. Paul told Timothy in his last letter, For God has NOT given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We have the power to walk through the darkest valley, the ability to love the person we fear most, and a sound mind to control our thoughts. This is a continuing process of renewing our minds by growing day by day, even minute by minute. Learn to trust God and refuse to give in to fear.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Accept God’s love, trust Him, and His love will drive out your fears. Then you can take the paddle of God’s word and push away the most fearful mental ‘snake’ Satan brings before you and continue with your life.