Thursday thoughts: Faith over fear

Several years ago, one of my granddaughters came home with a questionnaire she had filled out for something at school. One of the questions was “What are you afraid of?” Her answer was, “Well, basically I’m afraid of everything.”

In all honesty, because she lives with me and I have been around her most of her life, I can say in her childlike way this was an honest and correct statement. Actually, all of my grandchildren are afraid of something. The list is long. Just to name a few - lizards, frogs, the garage when the door is closed, the dark, and just any bug in general.

I would say that some of the things they are afraid of are ridiculous and unreasonable. However, if I am being truthful, in my adult-like honest way, I can say “I am basically afraid of everything.” The difference between the grandkids and myself is that I have figured out how to battle the fear. Some days I am very good at fighting that fleshly battle, and other days I fail miserably.

I can remember as a child being afraid of the dark and thinking there was some figure outside my window. I would call my mother in my room, and she would always pull the curtains open to prove to me that there was nothing there. I have to say that didn’t completely satisfy my fear. As an adult, I can voice my fears to my husband, a family member, or a friend, but honestly, they cannot completely satisfy, understand, or resolve my fears.

The only remedy for my fear is my faith. The only problem is there are sometimes (maybe a lot of times) when I entertain those fears and let them wreck my thought process before I turn to my faith. You would think I would learn…..But I have to be honest and say there are days when my flesh might win the battle.

At times I struggle with the fear of the unknown, sickness, my family, financial struggles, or just the future in general. Satan is so good at getting me to let my thoughts take control, especially when it comes to fear. I don’t think it is a coincidence at all that “fear not” is one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. I am sure God knew we would battle fear. The bottom line and the remedy for all our FEAR is our FAITH!

I find myself at least once a week (if not twice) having a really tough talk with myself to rewire my mind and remember my faith is bigger than my fear. As believers, we do not have to allow fear to rule our lives because we have a God who is greater than anything we face. When my fears tell me I cannot make it, my faith says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). When my fears say this situation is impossible, my faith remembers that with God, nothing is impossible. When my fears tell me I need to be worried, my faith says Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Taking the time to just remind ourselves and hold onto the fact that God's presence is greater than our fears, and His promises are stronger than our doubts, can ease all our fears. We can't always control which thoughts enter our minds, but God can help us learn how to battle those thoughts through faith.

Someone told me long ago that the word fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Isn’t that just like the enemy to try and trick us into believing and focusing on something that is not even real? I try to recognize and fight back with my faith through Scripture. Some of my favorites are Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Isaiah 43:1: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

These are the things I want my grandchildren to learn. I want to remember to be an example to show them that my faith is strengthened because I can look back on the ways my heavenly Father has taken care of me when I have been afraid. We can trust that HE can calm ALL our fears.

I pray that we will remember and learn to recognize that fear is not our friend. Fear may show up, but it doesn't have to take over. When your faith is in God, fear doesn't get the final word - God does.

___

Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.