Fear and Anxiety

These days seem to be fueled by fear.

Hopefully this is encouraging the choir. I speak to myself just as much as to anyone else.

I’ve been there, I’ve battled with anxiety and fear. I used to be afraid of people. I also had panic attacks around horses because of a really bad accident. But the good news is we don’t have to be ‘stuck’ in fear. We can be victorious over it.

Fear of death?

Jesus said,

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepared a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you man be also.” John 14:1-3

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Confessing our sins to God, we will be forgiven and have a place in heaven.

If we believe in God, we needn’t fear death. It’s that plain and simple. He’s got this covered.

If we don’t have God, then yes, we have a lot to fear and be anxious about.

Fear of financial ruin?

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Matthew 6: 26-34

If we believe in God, He will provide for all our needs. We needn't worry how we’re going to get through the next few months. 

He’s got this covered.

If we don’t trust God, then yes, we have a lot to fear and be anxious about.

Fear of what’s happening around us right now?

Psalms 91 says...

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

And if that’s not enough, get this,

If we are trusting God and His care, “Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Psalm 46:2

But if we are not trusting and abiding in Him, then yes, we have lots to fear.

Confessing our fears.

So how can one over come fear and anxiety when it seems to swallow us up? After all, it’s not just something we can just shrug off. It seeps into our most inner being, and grabs hold so tight we are powerless against it on our own.

But with God, all things are possible.

We see in scripture that Jesus disciples and the apostles could do nothing in and of themselves, but when they spoke, commanding in Jesus name, they had power from God to be victorious.

Confess each and every fear to God, and then in the power of His Son’s name, command each one of those fears to leave. There is power in Jesus Christ name. We can overcome those fears through Him!

If we remain in our fears, not trusting in God, then yes, we have much to fear. Fear will consume us.

May you each be encouraged today. God loves each and every one of you. He will take care of you. Trust Him.

S. L. Kliever