Confronting Our Fears With God's Word
Over the course of our lives here on earth, there are bound to be times when we are confronted with different situations that arouse or heighten fears about what lies ahead of us. In the moment when we are faced with those situations, it is easy to momentarily forget that as Christians, we have a God that is bigger than any mountain that may seem insurmountable. Because we dwell in the flesh, this is not too surprising and so I can identify with that. But today, I challenge you to consider an alternative reaction towards the fears that confront you. I have tried and tested this and the kind of peace you experience can only be likened to the scene revealed in scripture when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were seen walking in the burning furnace after they refused to bow and worship the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzer had made (Daniel 3). We read:
Beloved in Christ, arm yourself with the provisions or promises God has made in His word regarding every aspect of our lives and confront the fears you face with those promises and see the power of those mountains lose their grip over your peace. Listen to what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told Nebuchadnezzer when he confronted them about their refusal to bow down and worship the image of gold, even when he went further to remind them of the consequences - being bound and thrown immediately into the blazing furnace:
Let me provide you with some promises from God's word which you can also personalize:
Beloved in Christ, let me remind you that God has you in the palms of His hands. See Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Therefore, I entreat you to look to His mightiness and let your mountains drown in His presence.
You are blessed and highly favored!
Dan 3:24-25 KJV Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. (25) He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.During this past summer, my family was in the midst of a spiritual battle, which was draining us physically because revelations after revelations (both physical and spiritual) seemed like the enemy had the upper hand. Typical of most of us Christians, there is a tendency to question God as to where He was in the battle. In conversations with my siblings, mom, and a few other Christian friends and Pastors, we would ask why the battle would not cease. At some point, I became fearful thinking about all the "what ifs". However, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit asking me whether I thought this was too big a situation for God to handle. I began to reflect on all the different points in time in my life when God had come through for me and my family and God reminded me, using scriptures upon scriptures to show me how He has already made provision for this battle and for us to leave all into His hands and stop thinking that ending the battle depended solely on what we do and don't do. To be honest, my fearful attitude was giving me sleepless nights and also affecting my daily activities. But the very moment God brought to remembrance the provisions He had made toward the situation, it felt like the battle lost its crippling effect over my peace.
Beloved in Christ, arm yourself with the provisions or promises God has made in His word regarding every aspect of our lives and confront the fears you face with those promises and see the power of those mountains lose their grip over your peace. Listen to what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told Nebuchadnezzer when he confronted them about their refusal to bow down and worship the image of gold, even when he went further to remind them of the consequences - being bound and thrown immediately into the blazing furnace:
Dan 3:16-18 KJVBy their response, these men demonstrate their familiarity with God's promises, with a possibility that they had also witnessed or heard about God's deliverance in the past. Beloved in Christ, let me point out that the situations we face in our lives, which often arouse and heighten fear, may be likened to what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced. The purpose of most of the situations we encounter is to cow us to bow down to fear but when you confront the fear with God's promises like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego confronted Nebuchadnezzer, the situation will bow to the power of God's word. Confront the situation with a conviction about your faith and belief in the power of your God to save you and let the situation be made aware that no matter what, you are resolute in your faith in your God, who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. This was demonstrated in the reaction we read above by these three young men. Remember that the word "fear not" is recorded several times in God's word. Meaning, God is aware that as humans, there is the tendency to be afraid at the slightest opportunity and hence the need for the reminder to be not afraid.
(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
(17) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
(18) But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Let me provide you with some promises from God's word which you can also personalize:
Isaiah 43:1-2 KJV But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (2) When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 41:10-14 KJV Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (11) Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. (12) Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. (13) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (14) Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Matthew 28:20 KJV Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 17:12-15 KJV While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (13) And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. (14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Isaiah 54:10-17 KJV For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (11) O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. (12) And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. (13) And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (14) In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (15) Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. (16) Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. (17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.Now, bear in mind that these are not exhaustive. Pray to God to lead you to find other scriptures that are pertinent to the situation that confronts you.
Beloved in Christ, let me remind you that God has you in the palms of His hands. See Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Therefore, I entreat you to look to His mightiness and let your mountains drown in His presence.
You are blessed and highly favored!
Very encouraging! I will commit to praying a few of these scriptures daily and to faithfully trust God is bigger than my worst fears
ReplyDeleteNatalie, our God is faithful. As we continue to bear each other up in prayer, let’s also believe that He will never fail us. Praying with you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you sis, for your words of encouragement. I agree, it's so easy to forget that we have a living God as our father. I am quick to panic and fear when faced with challenges,forgetting all that God has done and will continue to do. I know that not only is God bigger than our fears but able to deliver us from all situations. However I need the grace to constantly remember that! Why is it so easy to forget??Thank you for the Bible promises. We just need to immerse ourselves in the word of God and TRUST, so that we can remember that when all fails, God will not fail. May we continually be in His presence. You are blessed sister!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Sis! I believe it is easy to forget because of how the human brain is programmed to consider those situations to be more real than the presence of God. Now, recognizing that we are also spiritual beings, it becomes imperative, to scripturally reprogram our brain to lean towards the greater reality of God's power, presence, and provision in every situation.
DeleteThis could be likened to the events in 2 Kings 6:15-17, when Gehazi, the servant of the Prophet Elisha woke up and saw the entire city of Israel surrounded by a hostile army and he became fearful. We read below:
2Kings 6:15-17 KJV
"And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? (16) And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. (17) And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
The reality was that Gehazi's human brain only saw the hostile army. But when his spiritual eyes were opened to the reality of God's presence around them, the fear left him. We can be spiritually awakened only when we immerse ourselves into God's word.
Stay blest.