Overcoming Fear!

TEXT:

‘Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You’ – Psalm 56:3

THOUGHT:

Fear is the driving force of many businesses particularly insurance, whether it’s for the car, house, pets, holidays or personal health. We want to be covered when something happens we do not expect. The Coronavirus is a worrying time for most people and certainly something that no one was able to predict or plan for.

• The uncertainty of life encourages fear – ‘The hearts of men will give up because of being afraid of what is coming on the earth’ – Luke 21:26 NLV.

How quickly someone can go from prosperity to bankruptcy as the new restrictions to combat the Coronavirus take effect. Businesses looking forward to a successful trading year only a few weeks ago now wonder if they can survive. When a business closes the knock-on effect is much greater. The Bible says, ‘Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment’ – 1 Timothy 6:17 NLT. Many churches struggle financially so it is important that its members are faithful to maintain their giving, even if services are cancelled. Fortunately with on-line banking it is easy to do that or just use cash!

• The likelihood of trouble does not mean it is a certainty

The spread of the Coronavirus is creating a fear of not “If” but “When”, and with the worst consequences. Yet many will experience it without drastic side-effects and millions more will escape it altogether, even if family and friends are not so fortunate. So it is possible to be living in fear of something that will not happen. That does not make us act irresponsibly but helps to keep this crisis in perspective.

• The prospect of dying can have a positive effect on our lives

The Bible says the gospel helps to release people from the fear of death. ‘Jesus did this to make us free from the fear of death. We no longer need to be chained to this fear’ – Hebrews 2:15 NLV. While contracting the Coronavirus is not a certainty, death is! Some try to blot out the fear of dying by busying themselves in work, sports, hobbies or harmful habits. Jesus came into our world so we can look death in the face and not be afraid. Because He lives, we can live eternally too, if we put our faith and trust in Him. Realising that we do not yet have that assurance and peace can cause us to start looking in the right direction.

• Learn to deal with each fear as and when it arises

It is possible to have faith and fear at the same time but over different issues. For example, Abraham had great faith believing that if he sacrificed his son Isaac in obedience to God’s command, God would have raised him from the dead (See Hebrews 11:17-19). Yet he feared losing his own life travelling into Egypt with his beautiful wife Sarah, persuading her to lie about their true relationship (See Genesis 12:10-20). He also did it again on another occasion. How could he be so strong on one thing and so fearful concerning another?

Our text says, ‘Whenever I am afraid’. Today you may be in peace but tomorrow, troubled. It’s then that you need to pray and ask God to help you. The Psalmist wrote, ‘I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears’ – Psalm 34:4 NLT.

God can do the same for you if you let Him!