How do you not let fear control your life? Fear of the unknown, fear of making a mistake, fear of being rejected? Sometimes it seems so much easier to just avoid situations; new, uncomfortable, or painful, because the fear of having to go through them is more than one can bear. Sometimes you feel that if you don’t personally take action than you can’t be blamed, that something negative won’t happen, or if it does it won’t be your fault.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Life is full of moments where it is easy to feel discouraged, it builds a fear in us of not wanting to go through that frustration. God tells us that while those moments arise; because He is with us we should not be afraid. Instead we should face these adversaries with strength and courage.
Recently my son at six months experienced a seizure. It was so easy to be afraid. It was so easy to feel discouraged and abandoned. It took time to realize that with the strength of God and the encouragement of Scripture I don’t need to live in fear. Just as I started to feel confident in my ability to face this challenge, my son had a second seizure. I was faced with a choice. I could go through the whole internal struggle with fear again, or I could do something different. I could put my trust beyond my abilities, in something much more powerful and protective. The being “strong and courageous” for me, is the knowledge that God will protect my son and support me through the emotions that I have to fight with.
It doesn’t have to be something so drastic that causes fear to penetrate our hearts. Sometimes something as simple as expressing ourselves, our views on life, our faith; can make someone’s knees shake. The thought of not fitting the mold of their peers, or being different, or being judged or ridiculed is too much to show your true self. You sit with friends at school, or coworkers on break and there are opportunities to tell them about your beliefs, a chance to change opinions, to show someone a more powerful uplifting way of thinking; but fear grips you because you don’t want them to get the wrong idea about you.
1 Peter 3:14 says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
But even if you can overcome the fear of actually saying something, what do you say?
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made in perfect love.”
Could it really be that simple? Could love really be our answer? Don’t think of the love as between a boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife, or even parents and child. No, think of a love of acceptance, of not judging, of compassion for the situation the other is in and selflessness to just want to help. Could love overcome our fears?
God’s love provides us strength and courage. Our love for others demonstrates our understanding of this. Through the strength of God’s love we are better able to overcome our fears and help others through theirs. Believe in the power of love. Fear traps, love frees.
- Jason Dupay
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Life is full of moments where it is easy to feel discouraged, it builds a fear in us of not wanting to go through that frustration. God tells us that while those moments arise; because He is with us we should not be afraid. Instead we should face these adversaries with strength and courage.
Recently my son at six months experienced a seizure. It was so easy to be afraid. It was so easy to feel discouraged and abandoned. It took time to realize that with the strength of God and the encouragement of Scripture I don’t need to live in fear. Just as I started to feel confident in my ability to face this challenge, my son had a second seizure. I was faced with a choice. I could go through the whole internal struggle with fear again, or I could do something different. I could put my trust beyond my abilities, in something much more powerful and protective. The being “strong and courageous” for me, is the knowledge that God will protect my son and support me through the emotions that I have to fight with.
It doesn’t have to be something so drastic that causes fear to penetrate our hearts. Sometimes something as simple as expressing ourselves, our views on life, our faith; can make someone’s knees shake. The thought of not fitting the mold of their peers, or being different, or being judged or ridiculed is too much to show your true self. You sit with friends at school, or coworkers on break and there are opportunities to tell them about your beliefs, a chance to change opinions, to show someone a more powerful uplifting way of thinking; but fear grips you because you don’t want them to get the wrong idea about you.
1 Peter 3:14 says, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
But even if you can overcome the fear of actually saying something, what do you say?
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made in perfect love.”
Could it really be that simple? Could love really be our answer? Don’t think of the love as between a boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife, or even parents and child. No, think of a love of acceptance, of not judging, of compassion for the situation the other is in and selflessness to just want to help. Could love overcome our fears?
God’s love provides us strength and courage. Our love for others demonstrates our understanding of this. Through the strength of God’s love we are better able to overcome our fears and help others through theirs. Believe in the power of love. Fear traps, love frees.
- Jason Dupay