What are you afraid of? Most of us can quickly identify a phobia or two. Some fear heights, others spiders, snakes, public speaking or confined spaces. Fear is a common part of the human experience. Yet if you take a Bible concordance and look up the word afraid, you will discover how often it appears alongside the command: “Do not be afraid.”
God said it to Abram. He said it again to Isaac. Moses heard those words repeatedly. Joshua was urged to be strong and courageous and not afraid. Fear became a stumbling block for an entire generation of Israelites who never entered the Promised Land because they lost sight of God’s power and promises. Again and again, when God called people to serve Him, His message remained the same. Joseph heard it. Paul experienced it. Even young Mary was told, “Do not be afraid.” Why does God give so much attention to fear?
Perhaps because fear is one of life’s greatest thieves. It robs us of peace, opportunity and purpose. There is also a spiritual fear that quietly works its way into our hearts when we become so focused on our circumstances that we lose sight of God as the strength of our souls.
Fear often grows from the fear of loss. We fear losing security, health, relationships, positions or possessions. An ancient writer once observed, “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” How easily we forget that we have a heavenly Father who watches over us and provides for our needs. It may be worth asking ourselves: What do I really fear losing? Then ask a second question: Can God not provide what I truly need?
At other times, fear is mixed with pride. We fear failure. We hesitate to step out because we do not want to get things wrong. Yet growth rarely comes without risk. If we never attempt anything because we are afraid of failing, we may avoid mistakes, but we may also miss opportunities to serve, grow and make a difference.
Fear can also take the form of despair. We look at where we are and compare it with where we would like to be. The gap seems too wide, and we lose heart before we even begin. Instead of taking one step of faith, we convince ourselves there is no point trying.
Another source of fear is opposition. We do not live in a world that is naturally friendly towards the values of God’s Kingdom. At times it is surprising what society readily accepts while the message of Christ and the witness of His Church are viewed with suspicion.
Jesus understood this reality. He knew what was in people’s hearts, yet He continued to speak the truth. What enabled Him to do that? Jesus possessed an inner strength rooted in His relationship with the Father. We might call it fortitude. Fortitude is an inner strength that relies on the promises and presence of God. It gives us the courage to live in a world of disease, disaster, temptation, betrayal and hardship while maintaining a calm spirit.
At times like these, we can make the words of the psalmist our own: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) The psalmist was not pretending danger did not exist. He was declaring that God’s presence was greater than any danger he faced.
Fortitude moves us beyond asking only, “Why is this happening?” and challenges us to ask, “What does God want of me in this circumstance?” When I rely on my own strength, I place myself at the centre of everything. I have to provide for my family. I have to look after my Corps. I have to solve every problem. I have to make things happen. But when I adopt Christ’s attitude of complete trust in the Father, I learn to rest in God’s provision, purpose, goodness and kindness. I begin to understand that not every outcome depends on me.
One of the greatest lessons of faith is learning to leave the outcome of our battles in God’s hands. We naturally want to control situations, but genuine faith requires surrender. When we try to control every outcome, trust slowly disappears.Few things will deepen our intimacy with God as much as facing our fears with Him.
So let us not run from our fears. Let us walk through them. As we do, God gives us the inner strength we need. He equips us through His Spirit and shapes us through every challenge we face. When fear whispers that we are alone, we can answer with the confidence of Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”
A life of faith is made possible by God’s grace, empowered by God’s Spirit and modelled by God’s Son. When we trust Him, fear no longer has the final word. Living with such courage is possible because God, by His grace, enables and strengthens His people as they follow Christ.