When Fear Protects & When It Paralyzes
Throughout the pages of scripture, we are told not to fear. I haven't counted the references, but I have read them all. I read in a few sources that the Bible tells us to "fear not" 365 times. That would be appropriate since I suspect we are subject to fear 365 days a year. Fear isn't all bad. In fact, fear can actually keep us from danger. When I get close to the edge of a cliff, a healthy fear pulls me back so I don't fall over the edge. If I'm on the golf course and I see lightning, a healthy fear tells me to get off the course and to someplace where I am safe.
There is a psychological fear that can be debilitating. It's the kind of fear that produces anxiety about all the possible points of failure in a given situation. You've probably noticed that the bigger the situation or mission, the more potential points of failure you have and, therefore, the bigger tendency to become fearful.
David talks a lot about fear. He had fears as a shepherd. There were real wild animals that could harm the sheep and himself. There were real points of danger in the landscape around him. But my guess is when the shepherd boy became king, fear went to a whole new level. It was no longer sheep he had to protect and provide for; David had to protect people and significantly more people than the sheep he used to watch. And then we can ratchet it up a notch by noting these were God's chosen people that David was ordained to lead.
I will confess that fear creeps in on me sometimes. Some days it lurks in the background, and other days it can give a roar that can distract me. And the best thing I know to do is trust that God put those 365 verses of scripture in the Bible for such a time as this. When the moment comes, and it will, we must turn to the truth of scripture and by the power of God's spirit, stand our ground. Let these words of scripture speak to all your fears today and then declare them out loud, claiming our victory through Christ. I will be joining you!
Father, thank you for your wonderful provision of your constant love and your abiding presence that assures us that we can rest in you and not give into our temptations to be filled with anxiety as we face the challenges of our daily lives. Today we will walk confidently, knowing you are with us in every step. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalms 27:1-3, 6-7, 11, 14 ESV
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