I grew up believing in ghosts, spirits, headless monsters and other fearful half-man, half-animals because my elder brother and sisters, before they became Christians scared me to death.
I brought that fear with me growing up.
That fear eventually developed further into other fears: fear of being alone in the dark, fear of academic failure, fear of committing mistakes, fear of an uncertain future, fear of getting embarrassed, fear of death and the list goes on and on.
Fear.
That’s just one word, but it has held captive billions of people around the world. It paralyzes people. It robs people of the joy of living.
Is there a way to conquer it? Can we just simply ignore it, hoping it will just go away soon? Or do we simply have to live with it?
What does the Bible say about fear?
1 John 4:18 says,18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Living in a fallen world, we can’t avoid the reality of acquiring fear from our family and later on, friends and media.
Yet, here’s this good news: fear can be overcome.
And God’s perfect love drives that fear out of us.
Staying in the confines of God’s amazing love keeps us away from unnecessary fear, while allowing us to develop the only fear in this world that we could say is healthy: fear of God.
When we fear God, there’s nothing else to fear.
Your greatest fear today might be, not graduating in college or not graduating in time; or perhaps, it’s losing your loved one; failing in the board exam; or ending up dirt poor and helpless…
It’s okay to feel afraid, as long as we don’t allow fear to grip our necks so tight we can’t breathe normal.
Isaiah 41:10 Is an assuring word from the Lord, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Every time fear knocks on the door of your heart, remember His word for perfect love drives out fear.
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