Faith Over Fear: Knowing God
I recently wrote an article entitled “The Lie of Loneliness” as part of a series focused on mental health. The article was about how our mental health is affected when we believe we are alone.
Satan will tell us that no one understands what we are going through. He will work to isolate us from our family and friends so we feel helpless and misunderstood.
Yet, it isn't just loneliness that Satan uses; he also uses fear, which can take on many disguises. A mother may fear for the future of her child. Students may be fearful about the acceptance of their peers.
People who have endured trauma may fear being abandoned. Someone who has been hurt in a previous relationship may fear being vulnerable.
Regardless of our ages, health, relationships, or jobs, we all fear. However, Satan will make our concerns seem overwhelming and even debilitating.
When this happens, we obsess over our worries, living in fear rather than faith. Instead of focusing on God and his promises, we can’t see past our worries.
Fear may feel powerful, but God is always stronger. Our confidence and faith come through the knowledge of God and His promises.
Recently, while walking our dog, God called me to come to him with all my fears. As I prayed, the list of concerns seemed endless. I was fearful about healing, finances, and relationships. It wasn’t until I stopped and allowed God to examine my heart that I saw how my mind was clouded with fear and worry.
I even struggled with writing this article. I was afraid of being a fraud. After all, how could I write about fear if I was fearful? For a moment, my fear eclipsed my calling to write.
I allowed it to seem bigger than God, who is faithful in all His promises. Hebrews 10:23 instructs us to “hold unwaveringly to the hope we possess, for He who promises is faithful.” (NIV).
I am writing this series about mental health to let others know that although we may struggle with fear, God is always there for us. The life He has for us, in Christ, is more beautiful and powerful than anything we choose to do on our own.
In John 10:10, Jesus said that He came so we “may have life and have it abundantly.” (NIV) Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (NIV)
Over the years, I have seen God do amazing things in my life, giving me peace, freedom, and joy. He has guided me with His Word, and I have learned that I can trust Him more than anything or anyone else.
Because I knew that God had helped me before, I let go of my worries and concerns within seconds of feeling fearful on that walk with our dog.
I chose to rest in the knowledge that His light would guide me as it had so many times before. The Bible tells us, in Psalm 119:105, that God’s Word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (NIV)
When we choose fear over faith, we limit the full life God wants for us. I saw this happen in my own life when, in my 20s, my fears were suffocating my heart and mind.
Although I had a relationship with God, it was not strong, and my faith was shallow. After going through trauma, I did not know how to deal with, much less overcome, my fears. I shut myself off emotionally with each choice, losing the desire to heal.
Instead of resting in God’s redemption and love, I chose to do things that held me as a prisoner in my mind, heart, and body.
My life at this time was chaotic and unstable. Even though my choices felt like freedom, they just weighed me down. With each poor choice, I was further away from God and his faithfulness… or so I thought. Although I felt distant from God, he was always near me, ready to carry my burdens and give me freedom.
Psalm 145:18 says that “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (NIV) I did not need to lie and pretend that everything was good when I came to Him because God is truth and love.
He promised hope and already knew everything I did and all that I felt. God was redeeming my life and ebbing away at my fears. He had a plan, and as I followed him, having faith in Him became easier.
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (NIV)
It would be great if, at the moment of salvation, we were immediately confident in God and His promises, but faith takes time and a knowledge of who God is.
The more we know Him and spend time with Him, the more we see God fulfill His promises. As a result, our faith strengthens, overcoming our fears and worries.
God loves you! From the beginning of Genesis to the final chapter in Revelation, the Bible is God telling us who He is and the love He has for us.
One of my favorite books of the Bible is John, which details the ministry of Jesus. When reading John, there are seven times when Jesus says, “I am.”
He said that He is:
The bread of life (John 6:35)
The light of the world (John 8:12)
The door (protecting his sheep) (John 10:9)
The good shepherd (John 10:11)
The resurrection and the life (John 11: 25-26)
The way, the truth, the life (John 14:6)
The vine and we are the branches (John 15:5)
In Hebrews 12:2, Jesus is described as “the author and perfecter of our faith.” (NIV)
Since we know Christ to be all these things, why do we live in fear, believe the enemy's lies, and disregard God’s protection and provision? We can have an abundant life by knowing God and that He is faithful in all His promises. When we fix our eyes on Christ, our faith will be strengthened, our hearts will lighten, and our paths will be straight.
In Galatians 3:12, God promises that in and through Christ, “we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (NIV) This verse brings me so much joy because God has given me freedom. Instead of living my life in response to fears, I am living life confidently in the truth of God’s Word!
I hope you know that through Christ, fear does not need to control you. After all, faith is born out of hope; hope comes from trusting God, and trusting Him comes from the knowledge that, in Christ, we are redeemed and free!
Follow Up Questions
Right now, what do you fear the most?
Do your fears ever feel overwhelming?
Have you, or do you, come to God with them?
Are your actions leading to more fear or more freedom?
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
There are things in this life that make me feel powerless and things that consistently occupy my mind. Lord, you know what these things are better than I do. I pray that you will help me rest in who you are and your freedom for me. I know you want me to come to you so you can show me what you are doing in my life. Lord, I earnestly pray that as I see your strength in my life, I will have a faith that isn't overshadowed by worry but a faith that overcomes all my fears. I praise you for caring for me and fulfilling your promises to me.
-Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Although she grew up on the beach in SC and lived in mountains of CO, Andrea loves living in GA more than anywhere else since that is where she lives with her husband, John. She has a passion for reading anything she can get her hands on, especially books about Art History and Christian Apologetics. Andrea herself will tell you how little she knows, and how, as she gets older, she forgets a lot of what she did know. However, she knows that God offers a peace beyond understanding, his timing is perfect, and he works all things for his glory. In this season of life, she is experiencing the blessings of marriage, as well as the newness of God’s healing and restoration. She enjoys sharing her life and the Word of God through writing for Tirzah and hopes that lives and hearts will be touched through her words.