The Futility Of Living In Fear

They will have no fear of bad news;
   their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 (NIV)

Fear is a powerful force. It can cripple us emotionally, leaving us weak and feeling helpless to act. It can turn hope into dread, and courage into cowardice. Yet faith is the antidote to fear. And we find faith through reading God’s word and trusting in His promises.

The Bible commentator Albert Barnes said:

There is nothing so well suited to make the mind calm as trust in God.

It is easy to be afraid, especially those of us facing continual health problems. New problems arise, old problems return, and our faith can grow weak in the face of continual challenges. Our imaginations can take us to fearful places and dreadful outcomes and we can find ourselves being led by doubt rather than guided by faith in the Lord.

We must be diligent and wise when considering the difficulties that are before us. There is nothing wrong with taking an honest look at the problems we are dealing with. And we must avoid “wishful thinking” about our illnesses and their outcome. It can be difficult to balance using reason and also holding fast to faith regarding our health challenges.

Yet above all we must apply the antidote to fear: faith. Remembering always that whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. Though we may yet suffer for a little while on this earth, the outcome of every challenge for the child of God is controlled by God Himself. He holds us firmly in His hands.

It is frustrating and exhausting to consider our very real health problems and remain optimistic when things look dire. Our difficulties can loom so large in our minds that they crowd out God. We must never consider our problems to be bigger than our God. While no one wants to look at hopeless situations and pretend to be cheerful about it we can recall that our God is the Master of every situation that comes into our lives. Even when situations look hopeless, we can regain perspective, and can find joy and peace in knowing that ultimately we have nothing to fear because the Lord is with us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, fears beset us on every side and hopeless situations try to drown out our faith. Help us to remember what You have already brought us through, and recall that with Your help no problem or situation should cause us to be overcome by fear. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2017