“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
Worry is really just another word for fear. When we worry about our kids, our relationships, our finances, or any number of things, we are actually living in fear. And it can be paralyzing.
Fear displaces faith in our hearts. Faith is the assurance of God’s ability to give us help and strength and wisdom. When fear displaces our faith, we find it hard to believe that our God is able.
Faith displaces fear. When we take each and every fear to God and give it into His hands, trusting Him to be our help and our strength, our faith displaces that fear. His peace comes in.
It doesn’t mean our problems all fade into the distance. It does mean however, that we will have the strength we need to face every challenge.
It also means we can expect our almighty God to work within our circumstances in unexpected ways. It means we can be more than just survivors — we can be overcomers.
To feel fear in the face of the unknown is a normal reaction. Yet God tells us we can live beyond that and let our faith extinguish our fear.
Take whatever worry is plaguing your mind and heart today and identify the fear that it truly is. Then invite God to help you lift the shield of faith to extinguish that fear. He is able and He will do it!
Father God, I thank You that You are more powerful than any of my circumstances. Today I ask You to increase my faith and to extinguish the fear that threatens to sap strength from my soul. Please help me to keep focused on You and not my fear. I lift up my shield of faith. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Take Action
Take some time today to go for a quiet walk and specifically give God the worry/fear that is prominent in your heart and mind. Thank Him that He does not give the spirit of fear, and invite Him to replace that fear with a growing trust in Him.