Fear

Hello friends! 
I'm finally getting around to finishing and publishing this post! I've been working on it off and on for over two months-yikes! 

We are all afraid of something. Some things are big, some things are small. But in all of us there is something we fear. You will discover some of my fears as you read farther down :)

What is fear? 

'Fear: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.'

Feelings describing fear: 'Terror, fright, horror, alarm, panic, trepidation, dread, distress, anxiety, worry, apprehensiveness, nervousness, foreboding.'

Fear, as I mentioned about anger in my post on  Trust, is an emotion given to us by God. 

Is it wrong?  I think it depends on the situation and the degree of fear present.

There are different forms of fear. One type can push us to action in a good way. If we are afraid that a certain plant or animal is poisonous, we will be persuaded to avoid that plant or animal at all costs and warn others when we feel they are in danger of it's affects. We avoid getting to close to a fire, touching a hot stovetop or boiling water, because we are afraid of the pain that it will cause. 
That kind of fear, I think is a healthy fear; a fear that is not wrong and displeasing to God. It is a feeling He has given us to warn us of danger.  

Another kind of fear is one that, again, I don't feel like is displeasing to God, but it is unnecessary, maybe silly, and can be overcome.  Fears for me that fall into this category might be these: talking on the phone and awkward silences. These fears are unnecessary and can be overcome with God's help, or, if it's an action, can at least be done despite that feeling. 

I will point out that if any of the above fears control us, then they are displeasing to God. The Bible says that we cannot serve two masters at the same time (Matt. 6:24). If we are controlled, or mastered, by fear, then we cannot be serving God simultaneously. 

A third kind of fear that I think is displeasing to God, would be fear resulting from a lack of trust. 

For me, fears falling into a this category would be these: Oppressive darkness, idioism that makes people do senseless,  evil things, death of someone I love. 

Near the beginning of this post, we were given a--the world's, at least--description of fear. What, then is trust? 

'Trust: Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something; Allow someone to have, use, or look after (someone or something of importance or value) with confidence.'

Feelings describing trust: 'Confidence, belief, faith, certainty, assurance, conviction, credence; reliance.'

Why would this third type of fear be displeasing to God? Because we are told to trust God (Prov. 3:5; Ps. 37:3-5), and as I said before, this type of fear is usually resulting from a lack of trust. 

How do I know this? When we trust God we don't have anything to fear, because we trust who He is, and He is good and only does what is for our good as His children, and His glory as God (Rom. 8:28). We trust that He is sovereign and has control over every situation in our life (2 Chr. 20:6, Prov. 16:9, Ps. 115:3). We trust that He knows best and better than we do (Jer. 29:11; Rom. 8:28). We trust that He will protect us and guide us and carry us through tough situations (Ps. 66:10-12; Is. 46:4; Is. 63:9). We trust that no matter what happens in this life, He is always with us (Matt. 28:20; Is. 41:10) and if we are a child of God, we will be with Him in heaven forever (Jn. 3:16).   If we trust that God knows best, that He has control, that whatever happens is for our best--and that includes death for 'to live is Christ and to die is gain' (Phil. 1:21), is there any room for fear? I don't think so.  

What does the Bible say about fear?

'God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, and though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.' Ps. 46:1,2 
'When I am afraid, I will trust in You; in God (I will praise His word), in God, I have put my trust. What can man do to me?' Ps. 56:3-4
' The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp around me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.' Ps. 27:1,2
'I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all of my fears.' Ps. 34:4
'Be strong and courageous; do fear, do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' Josh. 1:9
'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind.' 2 Tim. 1:7 
'So we may boldly say, the LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' Heb. 13:6, Ps. 118:6
'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.' Ps. 23:4
"Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness."~Is. 41:10

Some verses that have comforted me when I am afraid along with some of the above ones, have been these: 
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14,15 
While I am not afraid of death for myself, I am sure without a doubt of where I will go after I die, you might say that sometimes I was/am 'subject to bondage of fear of death' of others that I love. It has been really hard to let go and surrender those I love to the LORD. But they are WaY better off in God's hands than mine! It is a lesson that I still struggle with sometimes. 

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shalt you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday." Ps. 91:2-6

"Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Rom. 8:37


If you are afraid of the hard times that the Bible warns are coming with the end times (I'm not sure about you, but I often am), here is a verse pertaining to that: "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2:10

So, let us not be afraid, rather let us stand strong, trust Christ, and walk forward with boldness.

I have to say, friends, that writing this post has been very good for me to process these things and realize that I need to and can trust Christ.  And it has actually helped me to maybe not be so afraid. I hope it has encouraged you, too!

I hope you have a blessed day :)

Julia <3


*The photos in this post are mine; please do not use without permission*

Trust

Has your trust ever been betrayed? Mine has. By multiple people at once. It's an awful feeling. At first it feels, well, shocking. Then along comes denial. (Surely it's just a misunderstanding and can be clarified, right? Surely it's not true!) Then there was grief-mixed with a little anger. (Even though it doesn't seem very positive, anger is a natural emotion that God has placed inside of us. It's when anger controls us that there's a big issue, I think. ) 

This betrayal of trust changed my life. When you've placed your trust in people and had full assurance of their honesty and transparency for twelve years of your life, found comfort, joy and security and a wonderful, extended 'family' through it, and then be told that...it was all a lie? That you were being deceived that whole time? It really was life changing--for me, anyway. 

It was life changing--but for the better. At first I didn't really see how it could come out good. My dad had to find a new job-praise the Lord he was able to get one pretty quickly. The remaining half of my friends had to move away, or I didn't get to see them on a regular basis anymore. There was tons of stress for awhile, and there still is some. All that while we were still trying to find a church family after having moved a year prior. 

But now I've been able to look back and see that God really has worked that situation out for good, as He promised in Romans 8:28, and that He really has shown that He is faithful who promised, as it says in Hebrews 10:23. 

Through this betrayal of trust God has taught me to be discerning.  He's taught me that we all have different roles in the Body of Christ which are supposed to be used to the best of our ability for the maturing and unification of the church (Ephesians 4).   I've had to learn how to move on in life. Almost my whole life had been wrapped around the people I trusted. But with that gone, I've had to grow in courage (Still a lesson not very well learned yet :) ) in order to make new friends.
  God has helped me to have more grace. He's teaching me about balance, forgiveness, love and perseverance.  

And mostly, He's taught me reliance on Him.  When I discovered that I had been deceived by people that I loved, trusted and respected for all my life minus 4 years (3 of which were the first years of my life and therefore I don't remember much from them), I felt like I couldn't trust anyone except my family, and God. And God. 
I can trust God. Why? Because things in this life are changing. They are unstable and don't bring lasting security. But God is not changing. He stays the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So even though this world is constantly changing and never stable, God will always remain the same. Unwavering. That is why He can be our Refuge and our Strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). That is why He is our Rock, our Salvation, our Fortress and our High Tower (Psalm 62:2, Psalm 18:2). In Him we can find the stability and lasting security that can't be found in an ever-changing world.   

So, even though the world seems to be constantly changing and more and more people seeming to become untrustworthy, I pray you find peace, encouragement and hope in the stability and security of Christ. And remember that the battle is His.

"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

" Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful who promised." -Hebrews 10:23

Blessings,

Julia <3

(Photos taken by my lovely, very photography-talented, sister. Please do not use without permission)