Why I Choose to Live in Fear

Think of all the things that can befall us. Natural disasters like fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and drought are all real and have occurred throughout history. Adding to these we can include pandemics, wars, economic catastrophes, invasions, social unrest, and societal moral breakdown. Then, there are the potential day-to-day issues like accidents, the risk of flying, or swimming, or driving. No doubt, I have left out a few. Nonetheless, all these can keep one up at night or just ruin the waking hours of our lives.

Back in 1933, an American president declared that the ONLY thing we have to fear is fear itself. Many latched on to that phrase and it propelled people into a state of resolve that all obstacles could be overcome if we were fearless. Yet can people really be fearless when so much is stacked against them?

Most professing believers have never been taught that we must live in fear. Fear is a reality of life. The question is, Whom shall we fear? Here are some prescriptions from God’s Word:

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

The Scriptures tell us to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). When we doubt God and fear things other than Him, we forfeit the wisdom that is promised in the book of Proverbs.

Our love for Jesus is manifest when we keep His commandments (John 14:15). We are additionally told that perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18). When we find ourselves fearing our circumstances or the predictions of others, we should cling to Psalm 56:3-4 which states,

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
So, yes, I confess that I choose to live in fear – fear of the Lord. I continue to discipline my thoughts and emotions to remember that when in the hands of a sovereign God, I will never be left or forsaken.

So, yes, I confess that I choose to live in fear – fear of the Lord. I continue to discipline my thoughts and emotions to remember that when in the hands of the Sovereign God, I will never be left nor forsaken.

“We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another.” ~G. K. Chesterton