Fear is not failing

When God asks us to do something, it can be doverwhelmng, terrifying even, and cause usanxiety. Maybe it is moving to a new city, asking someone if they know Jesus, or even quitting a job. This happened multiple times to Gideon, who was a Judge in the Old Testament. There is encouragement for us though. God didn’t look at Gideon as a failure because he was afraid and questioned God about the things he was supposed to do. In fact, each time he was afraid, God provided for him.

But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. (Judges 7:10 ESV)

In this verse we read that he was afraid to go down to the camp alone. So, God told him to go with one of his servants. God could have easily said, “You failed and I will use somebody else!” But he didn’t. Don’t feel as if you’ve failed when God has called you to do something and you are afraid. He will provide a way for you to make it through your fears and succeed. Being afraid is okay, but succumbing to that fear and being disobedient is not. God will call us to do hard things in our lifetime, but as with Gideon, He will be ever present and strong in our weakness!

Be encouraged today and trust our good God to equip you for the work laid before you! Below are some amazing verses on fear

• Psalm 23:4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Psalm 27:1 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?

• Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

• 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

• Psalm 115:11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD– he is their help and shield.

Who’s afraid?

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?—Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27 encourages us to reason that we never need to be afraid. After all, when the “the LORD is the stronghold of my life,” what is there to fear?

But is it really possible to never be afraid?

Fear is a fact of life, even for believers, and being afraid is a part of most people’s lives. Even David, who wrote Psalm 27, is described elsewhere in the Bible as being “very much afraid” (1 Samuel 21:12).

Some children are afraid of the dark. Some parents fear for their children’s future. Some Christians are afraid of death, and some are afraid to face the future, expecting some tragedy to strike. A long-time Christian pastor, who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease, has written, “The more I think about the future, the more afraid I become.”

The only way to overcome our fears is to turn to God and to remember that God is the stronghold of our lives. And we do well to repeat these words from Hebrews 13:6: “We say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” We can also reread and repeat the words of Psalm 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” When we ask for God’s help and look to his Word, we can trust that the Lord will be our stronghold.

Prayer:

Lord, there is so much in life to be afraid of. Help us to turn to you and to trust in you when fear overtakes us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.