Rejecting Fear

We have so many pet names for fear, don’t we?

Stress, anxiety, worry, concern, dread, apprehension.  Sometimes when we tell others that we are feeling afraid we use these other words, because they sound kinder and gentler.

At the end of the day, though, they all designate a place in our lives where some sort of fear has crept in.

Now, of course, I’m not talking about the God-given healthy respect for danger, i.e. we don’t walk in front of moving vehicles, we don’t poke things into light sockets kind of fear.

I’m talking about the fear of the “what ifs”, the “I can’ts”, the “what will people think?”, the “I’m not strong enough”, “capable enough”, “smart enough” thoughts that invade our minds.

Throughout His Word, God tells us hundreds of times not to be afraid. 

He TELLS us. 

Not a vague suggestion or a “you might want to try this” kind of statement.

He makes it sound like we have a choice.

Wait a minute… What?

When fear comes knocking on our door, we get to choose whether we open the door and invite it in … or not.

So many times fear saunters in masquerading as the voice of wisdom bringing safety and protection. It sounds rational and reasonable. 

That is until you unwrap its pretty packaging and realize it has painted a bullseye on your peace and joy and wants to keep you stagnant, stuck, and paralyzed.

The Bible (2 Timothy 1:7) says that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  So if we are feeling a sense of fear, we can recognize right away that it is not from God. 

We can counteract those feelings of fear with the promises from that same verse.  God has given us power, love, and a sound mind. 

Friend, on the other side of fear is victory.  I really want you to grasp this. If we trample the fear under our feet, we will be victorious.  We will experience growth, progress, and a strengthening in our spirit because those are things that God promises to us when we persevere. 

And one more beautiful result of rejecting fear is that it makes room for God’s peace that surpasses our understanding.  Real peace, true peace – peace not dependent on our circumstances but on the One who has promised it to us.

So today, let’s choose to reject fear and walk in victory.  It doesn’t mean that our circumstances will change right away.  They may, but even if they don’t, we will most certainly gain a greater understanding of a Godly perspective which will bring peace to our souls.

Joy McLaughlin

As a co-founder of The Renewal Project, one of Joy's greatest passions is to help others walk in freedom, joy, and hope. When she is not ministering to others, she also enjoys writing, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends.