Fear can be crippling if we allow it to control us and monopolize our minds with whatever the particular fear is in our life.We must not allow our hearts to be captured by fear and we must not let our hearts shut down to the work God desires to do in us. Jesus is trustworthy and is always interceding for us at His Father's right hand. He loves us with an everlasting love and we cannot blame Him for the cause of our fear. We must, instead, turn to Him and allow him to heal our heart and deliver us from the crippling fear. ISAIAH 41:10 says " So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
We must reclaim our fearful heart by believing that God IS trustworthy. We are called to confront our fears and do things in spite of being afraid. I can relate to one fear that God has been faithful to strengthen me as I have faced the fear. When I was about eight years old, an elderly neighbor, was driving his old pickup truck to the little country store in our rural area where we lived. It was pouring down rain, and visibility was poor. He was crossing the river over an old wooden swing bridge over the Caloosahatchee River, and because of the poor visibility, he could not see that the bridge was open and he drove his truck right into the river and drowned. This was someone I knew and I would always talk to him as I rode my bicycle by his house. It had a tremendous effect on me and I was afraid of bridges from that time forward. I had nightmares for many hears of being at the top of a high bridge and on the edge of falling into the water below. I prayed for God to give me strength every time there was a bridge I needed to cross. My heart would pound and the fear would grip me, but I decided this fear would not cripple me. I prayed each time and asked God to deliver me. Each time I crossed a bridge, it became a little easier. Many years later, I can tell you there is still a remembrance of my fear, but it reminds me how faithful my God is! PSALM 46:2 tells us: "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."
Know with your mind and believe in your heart that God is always trustworthy enough to lay your fear at His feet and He will sustain you and walk with you through your fear.
Finally, be confident in this verse from I JOHN 4:18, which 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 perfect in love." Jesus is your constant companion, and He is all you need to face your greatest fears!
I love you, my dear sisters, and pray for victory in each of your sweet lives as you face your fears!!!! God is good all the time!!!
Linda Davis