Fear Conquered
Q. I can’t get beyond fearing things like losing my job and becoming homeless, my spouse leaving or my kids getting sick. Can you give me a short answer (because I can’t concentrate on reading, either).
Answer:
Stressful Times
Thanks for your question. These are stressful times, aren’t they? Many of us have suffered major setbacks. Partners leave their families to fend for themselves. Millions have lost their jobs and millions are becoming homeless. Tent cities are springing up across the country and many don’t know where their next meal is coming from. And we want relief from our painful circumstances right now!
What do you fear most? It might be helpful to make a list of the things you fear most in order of importance to you.
Don’t be Anxious but Pray about Everything
But, God doesn’t want us to live in a constant state of fear under these circumstances. Paul reminds Christians not to be anxious but to pray about everything with a thankful heart for those blessings we do have (Philippians 4:6-7).
What are you thankful for? After listing your fears, make a list of those things for which you are thankful.
God Never Gives Us More Than We Can Stand
Remember that God never leaves us or abandons us and He never gives us more than we can bear. God knows what you can take and what you can’t. “He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Also remember to trust God and don’t try to figure-out everything on your own: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”…(Proverbs 3:5).
Panic attacks, anxiety and nightmares are unnecessary for the child of God when we get sick, have cancer, lose a job, or see bad things happen around us. That is because God is in control of everything. …”all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).
Even from bad circumstances He works all things together for our good (Ro. 8:28). No matter what, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4).
Begin a list of those things that are working right in your life now. After listing things you fear, things for which you are thankful, and things that are working right, you may begin to see a pattern of God’s loving intervention in your life – today.