When Fear Strikes Again…

When God decides it’s time for a refresher course on fear…

I thought I was done with fear. I thought that there was nothing more to be afraid of and that I now had control over things. That was before I started on a couple of projects which led to me losing control and becoming fearful again. This fear was different, though. It was as though someone else was controlling my life, my actions, my thoughts, and the direction I took on a daily basis. Can you imagine being in such a situation? It was terrible!

Before I knew it, I was slipping into a form of depression. I would wake up and feel sad and stressed. I didn’t enjoy doing anything anymore. I wanted to be alone, to finish the tasks I had to do so that I could have some peace. I would finish them, yes, but there would be more waiting around the corner. The pressure was crazy. I had started snapping at the kids. The only place of solace was at work, where I was too busy to think about anything else.

Friends, I was going through oppression – oppression here meaning intense mental pressure. I was no longer in control. I had relinquished control of my life to forces outside of myself.

Wait – where was God? 

I had of course been praying earnestly for a solution because I knew that if things did not improve, I would snap. This time, however, God needed me to learn a lesson. I had to learn how to take control as a child of God.

In the midst of all this drama, someone with whom I had been sharing part of my struggles sent me this verse.

Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (ESV)

At first, I was like – I’m not afraid – what is all this?

Then it hit me. I was afraid!

This one verse jolted me back to reality, through the lessons below.

Fear enslaves

This fear that I was experiencing was now making me have thoughts about other things like death, illness, etc. I was clearly enslaved by it. I spent my time trying to figure out how to beat this fear, rather than taking authority over it. I had forgotten that as a child of God, His presence was with me all the time, and I had no reason to fear!

As a child of God, I need to take authority

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)

God does not give us fear. God does not make us fearful. When we do feel afraid, therefore, we need to take authority over that fear. I needed to face my fears and say no to them, and take control of the situations that were causing me to be fearful. Friends, I had to decide whether or not I wanted to remain fearful and stressed, or fear-free and at peace.

I am happy to report that I am working on giving my temporary yet present fears a permanent eviction notice!

Fear and God cannot coexist

I had to choose – to be fearful, or to trust in God. I had to realize that when I succumbed to fear, I was not pleasing God because my actions indicated a loss of trust in Him. I had to choose which side of the fence to sit on – the side of faith, or the side of fear.

 

Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”  (NIV)

I chose the latter. I chose to tell the Lord about my fears and lay them at His feet, trusting that He would deal with them as He knew best. I shifted my focus from my fears to the Lord. Best decision ever.

As travelers through this fallen world, we are bound to experience fear from time to time. What we do with this fear, however, is what will determine the effect it has on us. I don’t like what fear does to me, not one bit! With God’s help, I hope to learn how to deal with it when it comes along, so that fear does not come in between me and God.

 

 

Hi, everyone! I hope you had a great week. Today’s article is based on an experience I have had in the past few weeks, and the lessons I have learnt. One would imagine that some lessons do not have to be repeated, but in this case, God decided I needed a refresher course on fear! As always, please share this article with someone who needs to read it, and share your thoughts in the comment box below. Have a blessed week!