Faithful in Fear

Everyone is afraid of something, or  at least they should be. Fear can be a positive emotion. It can keep us safe and cautious. Fear of getting to close to fire will prevent us from getting burnt. Fear of heights will prevent us from jumping off 20-story building. In these instances, our rational, controlled fear will keep us safe.

Throughout the Bible, we are told to fear God, but that does not mean we are to have a phobia such a Theophobia (the fear of God or religion). Fear is not a bad thing, but when fear is coupled with worry and anxiety, it is. Brian Borgman writes, "The problem with fear, anxiety and worry is that it is ultimately rooted in unbelief. Not fearing God, not believing that He is for us, not trusting His will for our lives and His ability to work things out for the good is the root of fear, anxiety and worry. The way to overcome these feelings that can easily grip us and throttle us is to think rightly."

Our God is for us, and we know His character. God proves who He is and what He is capable of day in and day out. Our God is faithful, loving, wise and sovereign. God says to take our worries and doubts and lay that at his feet. We are human, so we will worry. However, we have an Almighty God who will talk to us about our fears, and who will work through them with us. God has been God for a long time, and He knows what we do-and don't-need. As hard as it is to let go, that is exactly what we need to do: surrender and trust God.

Living Life