We’ve all heard the common phrase, “The fear of failure,” but what about the failures of fear? There are so many failures we experience because of fear. We fail to reach our full potential, enjoy emotional well-being, rid ourselves of anxiety and depression, and see ourselves through God’s eyes. The most significant of these failures of fear is that we fail to embrace all God has to offer because we allow fear instead of faith to rule our decisions.
If you experience much fear in your life and pray for God to remove your fear, maybe your prayers should be for Him to increase your faith. You see, fear and faith cannot simultaneously occupy the heart! In Psalm 112:6-8 NIV, it says, Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. It’s all about trusting in God and believing in His Word. Why not let faith lead you around the corner of fear and allow God to fulfill all the promises He has for you?
When you choose faith over fear, a new world opens. It doesn’t have to be difficult, but we often make it so. When fear takes over, our emotions run rampant! In the heat of the moment, we focus on all the wrong things. Instead of focusing on God’s Word, we focus on the enemy’s lies. God tells us we’re the apple of His eye, but the enemy pulls us down and tells us we’re too bad for God to forgive. God shows us unfailing love, but the enemy tries to convince us that God’s love comes with conditions we can never keep. God’s joy fills our hearts, but the enemy tries to rob us of that joy by filling our minds with fears. We must know who we are in God and claim His Word to experience victory over the enemy and all the fear he dumps on us.
Depending on your emotions will only lead you astray, but God’s Word will keep you grounded. Surrender your heart to God. Study in and study God’s Word. You’ll walk in truth and confidence instead of fear when you do. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. God gives us power over the enemy who would destroy us with all our failures in the face of fear. Fear God over the things of this world. His love is stronger than all the failures we would experience because of our fears.