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Fear Factor By Hector M. Earle We live in an age of fear, but God promises relief from worry and despair for those who follow Him.
t seems that people everywhere today are suffering from some sort of mental strain. Millions worry about family problems, business pressures, the economy and the state of their nation. Others experience anxiety and nervous strain over health problems and financial woes. Someone once said that this is no longer the nuclear age, but rather the age of fear of the unknown and the unexpected. Certainly since 9/11, fear seems to be more prevalent. Needless to say, fear robs us of contentment, injects negative emotions into our personality and creates a toxic effect on our individual and collective health. In extreme cases it can even ruin our entire lives.
The disabling effects of fear When we're assailed by threats from the outside, we sometimes disable ourselves with fears from within that can turn obsessive. This sabotaging fear distorts our perception of ourselves and the reality of the dangers we face. It erodes confidence that we can handle a particular threatening relationship or situation and come out of it intact. This form of anxiety undermines even the best of plans with insecurity, inadequacy and self-doubt, which lead to a loss of heart that is crippling and increase our vulnerability to danger. Consequently, numerous phobias torment us and rob us of happiness and our well being.
God's antidote Indeed fear is torment, especially if is consumes us with worry and despair. That is why our Creator in other places in Scripture, gives us direction as to what to do when unhealthy fears overwhelm us. Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us not to fear for He will always be there for us in time of trouble. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you" (Isaiah 41:10).
The psalmist David also promises us God's divine deliverance from troubles and fear. He writes: "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry...The righteous cry out and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles" (Psalm 34:15-17). According to the Scriptures, the greatest antidote for fear is love. The apostle Paul writes, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). The worries and stresses we encounter come from the fear we have when our love for God and our fellow man has not been perfected. (See Luke 10:27.) Love is doing what God commands. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Love, then, is the perfect fulfillment of God's law according to the spirit and intent. It is the summation of all that is good and right.
There is no better life than living according to, and safely within, the laws of God. Life outside of God's divine laws causes people to run the enormous risk of becoming victims to the multitude of fears and phobias of this world. Our Creator has set dynamic spiritual laws in motion. If we choose to violate God's laws, we will eventually suffer and succumb to the torments of this age. We should choose rather to develop the greatest healthy fear of all -- the fear of God. Fear in this sense means a healthy respect and adoration for our bountiful Father in heaven who supplies our every need. How different this kind of fear is from the fears and torments of this world. Instead of allowing Satan to fill our minds with doubts and fears, let us focus on all that is good, true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honorable (Philippians 4:8).
When we are faced with difficulty, anxiety and sorrow, let us lay everything out before the very Son of God, and listen to Him say, "Let not your heart be troubled..." (John 14:27). For in doing so, we will allow God's soothing Spirit to keep our hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus and eliminate fear as a controlling factor in our lives. Copyright 2005 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Keywords: fear and love
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