Nothing is so damaging to our faith as fear. Fear has a way of undermining everything we believe. We know God is bigger than anything we might face, but when we get a difficult diagnosis from our doctor, we fear the future. We forget the serious times in our lives through which God has already seen us. When we lose a job, we fear we’ll run out of money and forget God has promised to provide for our needs (Matthew 6:31-33).
And while we know God is the essence of love, when we become afraid we’ll never find a spouse, or when we lose a spouse and feel the absence in our lives, we fear we’ll never know love again. Fear makes us forget what we know to be true.
Fear makes us forget the goodness and faithfulness of our God. Jesus told us perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). When we focus on His love, we will not fear anything this world throws at us. When we neglect love, we invite fear into our lives. The easy antidote then is to always live in love. Love is fear-proofing for our lives.
If you are sick of living in fear, try loving more. When fear grips your heart, shift your focus to loving someone else. Do acts of kindness. Encourage someone who is struggling. Pay for the groceries for the person in line before you. You can also love by praying for those who do not know Christ. Any act of love will serve as a fear retardant for your heart. Know when you are paralyzed by fear, love will release the chains.
Fear makes us forget the promises of God. He has promised to never leave us and to stick closer than a brother (Deuteronomy 31:6; Proverbs 18:24). Jesus promised nothing or no one could snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28-29). He holds us close to His heart, comforting us, helping us throughout the storm. We have nothing to fear in the arms of Jesus, but fear makes us forget that’s true.
Nothing good comes from fear. It stifles our creativity and keeps us frozen in place. Fear makes us forget Jesus promised us abundant life (John 10:10). We were created to love others and glorify God, but fear makes us forget that as well. It’s as if fear induces amnesia. We know the truth about who we are in Christ but, again, fear makes us forget.
When you become fearful, remind yourself of the promises of God. Read through all the miracles recorded in the Bible. God never changes, so the God of the miracles in Scripture is the same God who is with you today. Recall every instance in your life where there was no explanation for how you came through it except for God. Read again what Jesus did for you. Remind yourself how He suffered and loved on your behalf. Fear makes us forget what is real and true. Remember the love of Jesus. Remember His faithfulness and all His promises. There is no fear in love. There is no fear in Christ. But fear makes us forget.