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Fear and Worry – Your Enemies

“And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Do not fear, I am the First and the Last, (Revelation 1:17)

Fear and Worry are paralyzing emotions that restricts normal feelings of love, confidence, and well-being.  People in the Bible have been instructed over and over again not to fear and not to worry. Jesus speaks to you today through His precious words: “Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). Paul instructs Christians by telling us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

About nine million Americans are receiving some type of medical treatment as a result of excessive worry and fear.  It has been reported that one out of every twenty Americans will be confined to a hospital because worry and fear have developed into some type of emotional illness.  The words “fear not” and similar exhortations are repeated over and over again in both the Old and New Testaments.

These reminders from God are not condemnation of you.  There are many reasons people have been captured by fear and worry.  God wants you to give Him an opportunity to help you get free of these two enemies.  

There are real reasons people are controlled by fear and worry.  Part of it is a predisposition or a inherited temperament.  Some people have had childhood experiences which may have induced fear.  This would include overprotection, domination by others, disapproval, a traumatic experience, a negative thinking pattern, and a lack of faith.  I am not talking about the normal fear or apprehension we feel when we are doing something for the first time. 

 But if your fear keeps you from doing what you should, or if the fear absorbs your thoughts for a long period of time, it is not healthy and it is something you need to begin to change.

Christians, especially, can get fear and worry under control.  First of all, you have to believe that you can. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  “Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).

Don’t justify your fears and say “I can’t help it!”  Fear and worry are sins because they are the opposite of faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).  Confess your worries and fears to God as sin and remember this verse: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Ask God to take away the habits of fear and worry.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit that will deliver you from these enemies.  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13).  

If you ask anything of Him that is in His will He will answer it, if you will turn them over to Him.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).  “Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there”.  “Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Thank God verbally as an act of faith that he is going to take care of all your worries and fears.  “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Finally Repeat! Repeat! Repeat!  the steps you have just read and heard.  The habits of fear and worrying will not vanish immediately.  But with God’s help, you can have the victory over these enemies.  Each time you become fearful or find yourself worrying, face it as sin and a lack of faith, ask forgiveness, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, and thank Him by faith that you will overcome.