Does fear taunt you day and night?
Fear is such a common topic that we can all relate to.
Every week, I find myself having conversations with people about fear, in the church and outside of the church.
God kept putting this on my heart, and I knew He wanted me to speak about it for a reason!
From my experience, I’ve realized that behind every big dream, fear is often a shadow RIGHT BEHIND IT.
But here’s what I’ve learned: Fear is Satan’s tactic.
It distracts, deceives, and debilitates us.
Faith and fear can’t co-exist. We have to choose one or the other.
Contents
God’s Most Frequent Command in the Bible
What do YOU think it is?
It may surprise you!
It’s not “pray” or “love one another.”
The answer: “Do Not Be Afraid” and God Says It Over 365 Times
That’s a scripture about fear for every single day of the year and more!
It shows up as different variations.
Examples:
“Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.” John 14:27
God doesn’t say you won’t feel fear, but he says you don’t have to live by it because HE is WITH US every second of every day to help us through it.
Do you Relate to Any of These Fears?
- Fear of Health/Financial Insecurity
Do you obsess over your health or not spend money for fear you won’t have enough? - Fear of Losing Loved Ones
Do you have constant worry and anxiety that something will happen to your loved one? Is your tendency to emotionally withdrawal? - Fear of Being Alone
Do you find security in the close relationships in your life to avoid loneliness? Or do you settle for mediocre or unhealthy relationships because of it? - Fear of Failure
Do you take risks? Or self-sabotage before trying something new? - Fear of a Meaningless Life
Do you overwork in fear of not living a fulfilling or meaningful life? Do you have many distractions in your life to numb this fear?
“Every unchecked fear can bury a God-given dream.”
Quote by Gary Keesee
Take Time to Reflect
Which one of these fears hits home for you?
Two Women in the Bible, Two Choices
Sarah responds in fear.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
Sarah feared she’d NEVER have a child. She blamed God, grew bitter, and took control, giving Hagar to Abraham.
But trying to take control led to:
- Conflict and jealousy
- Hurt relationships
- Consequences that impacted generations to come
…BUT, the good news in all this is: God was still gracious to her despite her sin.
“The Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.”
He did what he promised.
God granted her a son, Isaac, in old age. A true miracle from God!
Time to Reflect
Do you ever feel like God’s holding out on you?
Have you tried to take control out of fear?
Hannah Responds in Faith.
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
To give context, at the beginning of this story, Hannah was deeply grieved about not having a baby at that time and was taunted over and over again by her husbands other wife, Peninnah, who had children.
Hannah chose to pour out her soul to God, not to grow bitter, lash out or take control.
Which I could see her being tempted to in this situation.
She chose to give control over to God:
- Prayed vulnerably and specifically believing God was listening
- Made a vow/promise to God and honored it
- Wasn’t afraid to look foolish to others
- Chose to worship even before her prayer was answered
And God gave her baby, Samuel. He became a great prophet and a spiritual leader who did amazing things for God.
Hannah didn’t take control or manipulate to get the outcome she thought was best, she surrendered to God’s plans for her. Whatever that was going to be…
And what did God do? Turned her pain into purpose.
Time to Reflect
What’s one victory in your life where you chose faith over fear?
Conclusion
We need to start dreaming again as a church…not let fear allow us to shrink back and not do scary things for God.
Fear can lead to discouragement and lukewarm Christianity
Let’s Dream for God again!
Sarah let fear lead and it led to many consequences and pain for not only her but her family and those around her.
But, let’s follow Hannah’s example that fear led to faith and brought her peace, closeness to God, and legacy.
Both had deep desires in their hearts and so do we!
But one chose the right way.
Jesus defeated fear when he went to the cross.
Let’s have faith when fear is knocking at our door.
By
3 thoughts on “Do Not Fear in the Bible”
Great article!! #FaithoverFear
Thank you so much! Glad you got something out of it!
wonderful spiritual content
thank you so much brother 🙏
glory to God,, Glory