Fighting fear can bring us closer to God

COVID-19, delta variant, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, disease, famine, acid spitting scorpions, murder hornets, global catastrophes, inflation, stagflation, shutdown, evictions, strange sightings in the sky, wars, rumors of wars, political scandal, all these words have become commonplace in our vocabulary today.

Any one of these items can cause stress, anxiety and fear. In such times of uncertainty, where does our faith in Christ fit in?

In the book Isaiah Chapter 41, Verse 10 we read “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Many have heard this verse and can even quote this verse, but there is a definite difference in knowing a verse and living out that verse in faith.

Fear starts out in our mind and then impacts our body. We usually respond to fear by running away or fighting. Fight or flight.

Our response to fear can often cause us to overreact. When we drive on ice and our vehicle begins to spin, the natural tendency is to turn in the opposite direction. If we follow the initial reaction, we end up in the ditch wondering how we got there.

Corinthians teaches us that we need to take every thought captive. We must win the battle in our mind. So the question we ask is, how do we respond in faith when fear stares us in the face daily.

There are five things that we should do to face fear.

First, we need to pray. Corinthians again teaches that we do not need to worry about anything but rather pray about everything. Prayer helps us to put the fear into the hands of the One who can deal with it.

Second, we need to be still. Most of the times in the face of fear, we begin getting jittery and nervous. Scripture again teaches us to be still and know that He is God.

Third, we must focus. The book of Philippians teaches us that whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy, think on these things. When we focus on these things fear cannot blind our eyes.

Fourth, we need to be in community. Jesus Christ is there for each of us. We can call out to Him no matter where we are or what condition we find ourselves in. Community, also known as the church, is vital in fighting the fear that is all around us. We find strength and encouragement together. Hebrews tells us not to forsake community.

Lastly, we must practice our faith. We must continue to recognize fear as something that is trying to compete for the place of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Doing these five things will not only fight fear but will also bring you closer to God. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, strength and a sound mind. Never forget that.