The Cure for Fear

The world is full of uncertainty, this week perhaps more so than in a long time. And this uncertainty causes a lot of speculation about what the future holds, usually ending in fear. How many despondent conversations have you had this week about the politics of a country that is not even your home?

First we have to get rid of the fear in our own lives, because fear paralyses us. And then we can make a difference in this world!

The cure for fear is an intimate relationship with the almighty God!

God provides us with everything we need in life, including certainty.

Hebrews 13:8 (WEBBE): ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God gave us Scripture, so that we can have something that is reliable in an uncertain world.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (WEBBE): ¹⁶Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So the first step in fighting back against fear in our own lives is to understand that Scripture contains the answers. Wait, fighting back? Yes! If somebody tried to enslave you in the physical world today, would you not fight back? The same thing applies in the Spiritual as well – our weapons are just different!

The most important thing to remember is that this spirit of fear is NOT from God!

2 Timothy 1:7 (WEBBE): ⁷For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul goes even further…

Romans 8:15 (WEBBE): ¹⁵For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

The word for bondage in the Greek is δουλεία (douleia), defined by Thayer Greek Definitions as follows:

1) slavery, bondage, the condition of a slave

Jesus came to set the captives free!

Luke 4:16-20 (WEBBE): ¹⁶He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
¹⁹and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
²⁰He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Being enslaved by fear means that everything you do is motivated by fear. God’s plan for us is instead to be children of a loving Father. And in love there is no fear.

1 John 4:18 (WEBBE): ¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Now this doesn’t mean that there will never be hardships in our lives. Even Paul was in need at times.

Philippians 4:11-13 (WEBBE): ¹¹Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learnt in whatever state I am, to be content in it. ¹²I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learnt the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. ¹³I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

But God gives us the strength to do all things!

Keep your eyes on God

Remember the time when Peter walked on the water? He did the miraculous, until fear overpowered him.

Matthew 14:28-33 (WEBBE): ²⁸Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
²⁹He said, “Come!”
Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
³¹Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

Here we see the opposite of fear – faith! Notice that Jesus saved Peter immediately first, and then berated him for his doubt. The ideal is that we should have the faith to completely destroy fear ourselves. But God won’t let us drown if we can’t do it on our own!

Practical Steps

By now you are probably thinking “I know all of this already, but I am still afraid!” So here are some practical ideas.

Scripture has a lot of power. When the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus told the devil “it is written”. So choose a verse such as 2 Timothy 1:7 and memorize it. And then in moments of fear, quote it!

Another great antidote to fear is in my opinion praise and thanksgiving. Just like light makes darkness vanish, so praising God dispels fear and all other negative emotions.

And the permanent solution to banishing the fear is to renew your mind to the mind of Christ. The more of the Word you put into your heart and mind, the easier it becomes to think like Jesus in all situations. The easier it is to know and really believe God’s fantastic promises for us!

Changing the world

Romans 12:21 (WEBBE): ²¹Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 8:19 (WEBBE): ¹⁹For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Creation is waiting for us, the children of God, to make the difference! Imagine how different the world would be if all believers actually actively lived like Jesus! And Jesus himself said that we will be able to do the same and even more!

John 14:12 (WEBBE): ¹²Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

That is the kind of life that I want to live! Fear is one of the big obstacles in achieving that, since it paralyses us into not doing what we can and should be doing. So today I stand against the spirit of fear in this world. Fear, you are not welcome in our hearts, LEAVE in Jesus’ name! And I choose to live instead in power, love, and self-control!