Introduction
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Are you plagued with the fear of pain, disease, or dying? Have you shut down under the weight of fearing failure, being misunderstood, or rejected? Does the fear of punishment, judgment, or condemnation send you running for cover? Or are you always on guard and ready to lash out at anyone who seems threatening to you?
Fear can be a destructive tool of the enemy. We can know that Satan is using fear to harm us when our fear fosters the deeds of the flesh in our lives. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Galatians 5:19–21
Scientists have labeled the human response to fear as “fight or flight.” Fear is visceral, instinctive, always disconcerting, but sometimes unwarranted. Do you desire freedom from the control that fear has over your thinking and actions? Look to Jesus!
The instruction to “fear not” is a frequently repeated call throughout Scripture, found in nearly every book of the Bible, first in Genesis 15:1 and last in Revelation 1:17. So, we can infer that God not only anticipated His people’s fear but also that He made a plan to relieve our fears. The antidote to our fears is looking to Jesus.
Alternatively, fear can be redeemed and used as a vehicle that drives us to Jesus, our refuge. The book of Psalms is replete with expressions of fears relieved by looking to and taking refuge in the Lord, such as “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3
Whatever is inciting you toward fear is met today by Jesus with strength and victory! Look to Jesus for relief and hear Him say to you, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36). Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and has risen victorious for you. Believe that you were in Christ when He died and that in Him you were raised to a new life of righteousness which brings boldness (Proverbs 28:1). See Christ’s perfect love displayed on Calvary and let this sight cast out your fears (1 John 4:18). Remember, there is no punishment for you; death is defeated (Hebrews 2:14-15). You are safe in the shelter of the cross (Psalm 91:1-2)!
Illustration
As the Israelites were living in the Promised Land, they faced many battles. In one particular battle, they faced a massive army made up of warriors from Ammon, Moab, and Mt. Seir. They felt overpowered and underprepared for this attack. The king of the Jews, Jehoshaphat prayed to God and said,
2 Chronicles 20:12 (NIV) “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Sometimes we too can be paralyzed with fear. We don’t know what to do or where to turn. We might feel that so many things are against us, that our thoughts overpower us, that we don’t know how to handle situations. When you are afraid, feeling overpowered by a vast army that produces fear, look to Jesus. “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” As you look to Jesus, you will see that He has made your battle His very own:
2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV) He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV) You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
See the cross as defeating all your enemies, and bringing you to victory in all areas. See the resurrection of Jesus defeating even the last enemy, the enemy of death, and giving you eternal life. Look to Jesus when afraid, put faith in Him, and you, like Jehoshaphat and the Israelites, will lose your fear and win your battle. Praise the Lord for His victory won for you at Calvary, and do not fear.
2 Chronicles 20:22 (NIV) As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
Application
Are you afraid of financial loss? Do you fear that someone will take advantage of you? Look to Jesus and see that He laid down His life for you. His death was to your advantage. See that though Jesus “was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Out of the abundance that you have received from Jesus, bless others. Don’t fear the loss of face or fortune; rejoice in the spiritual abundance that you have in Christ (Philippians 4;19)!
Do you hold back from serving or using your gifts afraid that others will mock or make fun of you? Look to Jesus and see Him willingly receiving the insults and abuse of all, not retaliating or shrinking back but entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2: 23). Do not fear man, but look to Jesus and trust Him! What can man do to you that the wounds of Jesus cannot heal (1 Peter 2:24)?
Are you suffering from sleepless nights afraid of what tomorrow may bring? Look to Jesus, who has secured your eternal life by sacrificing His own. Look to Jesus, who has risen victorious and now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven ever interceding for you. Set your heart and mind on Jesus, and He will give you rest.
In Psalm 3, King David’s son, Absalom, was seeking to kill him, and so David prays through his fears in this way, “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul,” There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah. But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid…”
God has answered you from His holy hill too, dear friend. Look to Calvary’s hill and see Jesus bowing His head and giving up His Spirit to lift your head. See Him giving up His Spirit so that you can be comforted in your distress. He is a shield around you; you are safe in Him.
Question: What fears are troubling you right now? Bring them to Jesus in prayer here:
Larry writes, “Father, I pray for strength and courage to lose any fear of speaking to neighbors about Jesus. I share the gospel with many at other places but do not boldly speak the gospel into the lives of my next-door neighbor other than living my faith and sharing Your Spirit within me to guide me and give me strength in my weakness, in the name of Jesus, amen.“
Sophia writes, “The Lord knows that the fears of everyone on this globe right now are one and the same – fear of this pandemic Coronavirus. But the Lord knows that ‘we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you!’“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.