OVERCOMING FEAR

“There is no fear in love.” – 1 John 4:18

    Human beings have always feared the unknown or unseen; what we do not understand usually terrifies us. For example, many people are afraid of the dark because they imagine things in the dark and cannot see. People have phobias for almost everything today, so it should not surprise us that there is a phobia of fear.

    Fear has become Satan’s number one tool that he uses to plague the hearts of many, unfortunately including believers.  It is sad when Christians center their lives on the fear of some possible occurrence, bad luck, and more commonly here in Africa, the fear of witches, demons and evil spirits. This fear consumes them wherever they go because they are afraid that something bad is going to happen, some evil force out there will not rest until they are destroyed forever.

    Satan’s kingdom is one of darkness and he uses dark places to frighten believers and make them turn away from God. Satan knows our strengths and weaknesses, and fear is just one of the many ways he has of bringing us down. People can actually become so entangled in their fears that they end up going to Satan for help. Whenever they do pray, they do not receive an answer because their prayers are not accompanied by faith.

    Some Christians fail to realize that when Jesus died for all mankind, He redeemed us from Satan’s grasp. He gave us freedom, life, peace, and to all that believe He becomes their light, strength, power and victory. That is why the word of God says, “Greater is He that is in you, than he who is the world” (1 John 4:4). And again, “If God be for us, who then can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

    Remember the account of Elisha and the Arameans. The king of Aram was at war with Israel, but God revealed all His plans to Elisha who forewarned the Israelites. The king of Aram’s plan was becoming futile and he was not happy. He sent out an army to capture Elisha. The city where Elisha was living was surrounded by the king’s horses and chariots. When Elisha and his servant learned of this, his servant was frantic. He feared that that their end was near. Elisha asked God to open his eyes and on the hills surrounding Elisha were countless horses and chariots of fire ready to protect them from the Arameans (2 Kings 6:11-18).  Look through your Bible and you will see that God never forsakes His people. David said that throughout his life he never saw the righteous forsaken by God  (Psa. 37:25).

    This does not mean that bad things will not happen, or that evil spirits do not exist, because actually bad things do happen and these spirits do exist. However, we must never forget that “He who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3). The things that we fear will only become a real problem when we believe they can harm or destroy us spiritually and that God will do nothing to prevent it. Faith is very powerful, but do we use it enough?  We have received the spirit of a sound mind, not the spirit of fear or timidity.

    Psalm 27:1-3 reads: “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident.” God assures us of His protection in the morning, at noon, and at night.  There is not a time when He is not with us.   

    We must ask ourselves, “Do we believe that God is our All in All?” If we understand this, then nothing, absolutely nothing, can shake us. The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...”  He goes on to explain in Philippians 4:7 that this peace “transcends all understanding,” which means that this peace goes beyond what is normal. When others are fearful and in despair, you will be smiling, rejoicing and praising God! Even in the worst situations, His peace will keep us calm. People will look at us and wonder what makes us so tranquil and happy even in fiery trials.

    As believers, fear should have no dominion over us. When we walk, eat, drink, sleep or wake, we are to be without fear because Christ lives within us. We are the “untouchables” because God’s Spirit and power flows through us. This is the result of faith in God. “…for though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because my God is with me.” This assurance comes when we commit all into God’s hands by faith 24/7. We can overcome fear and we can overcome the world through faith in the Word of God (1 John 5:4). It is only when we allow fear in our hearts that we are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.  Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). 

May Christ speak peace to our hearts and dispel fear forever!


                                                                       S. Monye ©CDMI