FEAR
Ya‘akov became greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people, flocks, cattle and camels with him into two camps, saying, “If ‘Esav comes to the one camp and attacks it, at least the camp that is left will escape.” (Genesis 32:8,9)
Fear is a powerful tool both we and the adversary may use to hinder and destroy encouragement and joy within our lives. Our fear appears to come from messages we recycle within ourselves, each time we face a challenge or opportunity, which presents an exciting challenge. Phrases such as, “I won’t be able to do this; it won’t work, I know it; and the universe is against me,” are just three of the many we convince ourselves of the fruitlessness of our attempts to succeed. Of course the adversary may use the same phrases against us or he may place obstacles in our way to discourage and deflate our enthusiasm. So, what do we do about this?
The world appears to have many solutions to deal with fear in our lives. For example, one web-site1 tells us: “The fear is simply because you are not living with life. You are living in your mind. Your fear is always about what’s going to happen next. That means your fear is always about that of which not exists. If your fear about the nonexistent, your fear 100% imaginary. If you are suffering the non existential, we call that insanity.” Another website2 shares with us, At the beginning of each new year many people consider making resolutions to change for the better. Of those who succeed in making resolutions many fail. But many fail before they give success a chance because of fear. Some are afraid of failure, others are afraid of success. Regardless of the source of the fear, it immobilizes too many and prevents them from achieving what they desire and are capable of. There is no more sure way to fail than to never try. This year, don’t let fear kill your hustle before you even get moving.” We know there are human ways of overcoming fear but what are God’s ways?
Characters in Scripture faced fear all the time; never was this fear sugar-coated or downplayed. We have read of Jacob’s fear of meeting his brother, Esau, when he returned from serving Laban, Ya‘akov became greatly afraid and distressed. (Genesis 32:8) King David often faced fear, especially when he was hiding from King Saul, for example, as we read in Psalm 91:5,6 – “You will not fear the terrors of night or the arrow that flies by day, or the plague that roams in the dark, or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon.” Then, in 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Rav Sha’ul, the Apostle Paul, writes to his protégé, Timothy, about his fear – “For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.” Notice how Sha’ul uses the Holy Spirit to invoke confidence and peace in Timothy’s heart, to ensure him of God’s love for him.
And that is the key to overcome fear in our lives, the Love of God! Only He can rid us of those ever-cycling thoughts which have only one focus, the creation of fear. One of the more important reasons for reading Yahveh’s Word, is to memorize the words of encouragement, which will help us allow Yahveh to conquer fear within us.
For example, from Isaiah 41:10, we read these encouraging words: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you; don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand. And then, in Psalm 34:4, we read – I sought Adonai, and He answered me; He rescued me from everything I feared. In the New Covenant, we may read, from 1 John 4:18, a teaching which focuses on our lack of trust and failure to let our fear go – There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love.
Beloved, when we love Yahveh, our Great God, fear cannot exist. When we allow Adonai Yeshua, Lord Jesus, into our lives, we are gaining the greatest tool we could ever have against the onslaught of fear. I know this personally. As a young to mid-life adult, I was constantly in fear of doing the wrong thing – in my job, in my social life, in my home. When, in my early 60s, I invited Adonai Yeshua into my heart, all this changed. I received a new heart, filled with God’s Love and His Confidence. This was an amazing transformation, which has continued to this day, many years later.
My Dear Friends, I urge you to use the Love Yahveh has given you to rid any fear within your mind. If you have not yet accepted God as your Shelter, your Companion, your Shield, I sincerely urge you to do so today; I guarantee you will find His Love to be the greatest Gift you will ever receive.
CONSIDER: Are you faced with the fear, which stops you from doing anything you really want to do? Do you find this fear stops you from really living your life to its fullest?
ACT: I urge you to read Scripture, to find solace in the Word of God; His Word will strengthen you, if you allow it to seep into your heart. Speak to a local pastor, one whom you feel will speak to you with peace and courage.
PRAY: Beloved Abba, I sincerely ask you to look into my heart and see the fear which plagues me. I pray you will remove that fear from within me and give me the courage to withstand its onslaught. In Your Beloved Name I pray.
May the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you richly.
www.journeythroughtorah.net
To read a preview of Michael’s latest Book, A Journey Through Torah: An Introduction to God’s Life Instructions for His Children, Volume One: Genesis, click on the kink below:
https://heartformessiah.org/?s=Book+Preview