The Tyranny of Fear

Fear is a tyrannical dictator. Fear diminishes. Fear robs. Fear disallows.

I'm recollecting a lesson God taught me years ago as I wrestled through a decision in my life: God does not lead through or by fear. In other words, do not make your decisions based on your fear. God is not that kind of father. He is not. He is Love itself and is deserving of our absolute confidence.

When my decision is inspired by fear it is not inspired by faith. And without faith it is impossible to please God. Now, does that mean that every determination inspired by faith is fearless? Au contraire mon ami! It simply means we make our choices based on God and His Great Faithfulness and not out of fear. We lift our eyes to Him, choosing to delight in His way, choosing to trust His Word alone. And with that Word we are then equipped to overcome fear.

Determining His heart and delight, bowing your knee in love and deference to Him, then following that course of action in spite of fear or doubt due to situation or condition is faith. Keeping your eye on Him and battling that fear and doubt as you pursue that decision is faith. When weary, looking for others to hold up your arms in the midst of that battle is faith.

Living boldly by faith is not always seen by others. It is not always a visibly gallant exercise, a public display. It might be as simple as saying "Yes, Lord, I will do that. I will call my friend and encourage her today. I'm afraid to do that, afraid she will not be blessed, but I will trust You. I will not make this choice based on my fear, but based on Your heart of love."

I remember as a young bride learning to support my new husband and this lesson first coming to me. My husband needed me to be brave. I hadn't been to NYC in many years, and never as an adult. We were looking for a parking spot near Times Square to buy Broadway tickets. I'm a small town girl remember. And it is summer in NYC - tourist season. Around and around we went. Finally he quickly pulls over to the curbside saying, "You get out here and I'll find a spot somewhere farther away and come find you. You get online right over there." With that, he opens the door and I jump out. Alone. Immediately engulfed in a flowing pushing crowd. PANIC. The thought of ever seeing him again seemed overwhelmingly impossible. "Where did he point to? Am I safe here? What if someone steals me away?" Every bad thing I had ever heard about the city came screaming in. And then His Spirit nudged me, reminding me of His presence, challenging me to be what my husband needed me to be, to be what He wanted me to be. He challenged me to be calm, to know His peace, to refuse the fear so that I could be used by Him. And I yielded to that nudging. I wanted to be used by Him and not be a tool in the enemy's hands, stymied by fear and unable to function. A simple but profound lesson in my life. It has served me time and time again.

You see, fear is a tyrant. It will rob you of every opportunity to experience His grace, His empowerment, His love flowing through you. It keeps you from receiving His best gifts. It holds you back from growing and enlarging. It is a tool the enemy uses against us. It is the absence of faith, overwhelming us when our eyes are off Him and on our circumstance.

Repent of fear. Then ask Him for a red flag to wave in your mind's eye every time you are choosing something based on fear rather than faith. He will do it. He will show you. He will help you. And when you learn to overcome fear in small decisions, you will begin to overcome fear in large ways, too.

Yielding to His heart by making faith-based decisions will release empowerment and freedom, bringing joy to Him and those around you. And His Holy Spirit will enable you to do this very thing. Ask Him and see that God does not lead us by fear but faith.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4.18

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1.7

  

Fading

"...an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away..." 1 Peter 1.4 

"The grass withers, and its flower fails away, But the Word of the Lord endures forever." 1 Peter 1.24

 

I weep a bit when I read these words. I've suffered loss, seen corruption, experienced defilement. But look and see! What a promise! This assures us that in heaven, for all eternity, our inheritance and our God will not be corruptible or defiled nor will they fade away. Never. Never changing. Always. Wow.

Perhaps it's my age, the years of experience. Or perhaps it is the Spirit of the Living God abiding within, teaching and revealing. But I'm very aware of the defilement, the corruption, the fading away. I've learned about the joy that accompanies the new, shiny, exciting thing: it will fade, it will fail.

I'm not trying to be a downer here. It's simple reality. And in all honesty, it doesn't need to be a downer, just an honest assessment. Because there is a hope, a real and genuine and lasting hope.

Last week the lawn was mowed and thoroughly raked. The gardens were meticulously weeded and edged. The sprinkler had been run generously, renewing green vitality throughout.

Today? Mounds of grass lie drying in the sun where the mower did its work yesterday. The dirt is dry and the plants lackluster. Clover and grass are creeping across the border. And I sigh a bit, shrug my shoulders and say, "Well, that was nice while it lasted. But I have an inheritance in heaven that is incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away. Thanks be to my Lord Jesus Christ!"

Time and again the new glass pitcher breaks, the cleaned window gets cloudy, and the friendship fails. A good lesson has been learned. Enjoy the beauty, but don't depend on it for real joy. Delight in the experience but find lasting delight in Him. Lean only on Him and look to Him for the real thing.
The incorruptible awaits us, and oh, how glorious that will be! Perfection forever.

But He is with us today; His beauty, His faithfulness, and His truth.

"The Word of the Lord endures forever."

How wondrous to behold the eternal, the everlasting. It is here for us, even today.