Have you ever thought about the devastating effects fear can have on our lives? Fear of the unknown, of change, or even fear of what toys our children play with. If you can name it there is probably a way to be afraid of it. Just to give you a sample of how many different types of fears there are psychologists have labeled 58 known phobias or fears beginning with the letter “A” alone. A couple of interesting phobias include:
Alliumphobia – Fear of garlic
Consecotaleophobia – Fear of chopsticks
Pogonophobia – Fear of beards
[To see a more complete listing see here.]
Hopefully no one has all three of those or else a Chinese restaurant is not the place for you! The good news is that even though people fear many things, God has something to say to remind us that we have little to fear. In 1 John 4:18 we find this encouragement, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” In 1 Peter 5:17 Peter writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God is actively working to take away our fear and replace it with love that gives us courage and confidence. Throughout the book of Joshua the constant theme is to “be strong” and to “be courageous.” Why? Because God is the one who gives deliverance. Only God can give the victory. No matter what you are facing, if you trust in God, he is able to see you through to the other side. Cast it all on him because he cares for you! Fear binds but the love of God sets free. Fear paralyzes but God’s love energizes. Fear breaks down but the love God has for us builds up.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Fear not!
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These are powerful words! I used to share similiar ideas to this post in the verse in 1 John 4: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.
Although I shared my convinction of freedom made perfect by love with a dear friend in college and then through grad school, He just couldn’t grasp that God’s love meant that we never had to be afraid. He said that I was all grace and no rage and that wasn’t the God of the Bible. Sadly, the ‘God of rage’ that he believed in kept him in shackles to fear, and our friendship ended.
I have since found even more joy in the Lord and from the Lord than I ever though possible (but always hoped for). I’ve no idea what has happened to him but I hope that he one day finds the confidence of love as a child in God’s family.