Fear Based Trust

FEAR -  It’s a multi-faceted word, isn’t it? Words like anxiety and worry are associated with it. Anxiety could be described as “the fear of what we cannot control”. Think about it. The situations or outcomes we cannot control are usually the things we get anxious about or stress over. For some people, fear is crippling. Unhealthy fears can hold us back from relationships, growth and our enjoyment of God. It’s possible that we could identify fear as a root cause of struggles in many of us; we just don’t know it.

EXAMPLES – I have struggled with being a perfectionist. Some believe perfectionism is based on the fear of failure. A perfectionists sets unreasonable standards for themselves and others. Perfectionist can struggle with a critical spirit. I do.

There is a component of fear in pride. Some pride can be based on the fear of appearing inadequate. Have you ever known prideful people who you know to be insecure deep down?

Many are fearful of relationships. Maybe it began with some painful experiences in the past. Maybe the person has something to hide and cannot risk getting too close. Whatever the source of the fear, we feel incapable of close relationships.

Many fear what's ahead. They become paralyzed over the prospect of what is on their plate or changes in their lives, etc.

No matter what you fear, you should know we serve a Loving God who wants freedom for you. 

HEALTHY FEAR – Fear is not all bad! Some healthy fears inspire us to seek shelter from the hurricane or fasten our seat belts or inspect our scuba gear before a dive. However, there is another fear that God is after. Just like we respect the power of a hurricane or a raging river, we are to respect and fear a Holy God (”But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5).

FEAR BASED TRUST? – Have you ever noticed how God often operates in ways opposite to what we would consider common sense? “…but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,…”   (1 Cor 1:27). We read this verse and don’t always have a good grasp on examples, but here is one! The very God who has no beginning and no end, who has created everything and has the power to destroy it all…This Almighty God wants us to trust Him AND fear Him all at the same time. Think about that. It sounds confusing and here is one possible reason why.

WE'VE BEEN LIED TO – If God designed us to both Trust Him AND Fear Him, then that tells me that Fear has been counterfeited by the enemy and has been corrupted by our sinful nature. Fear was meant to direct our path from the beginning. Fear was meant to create a dependence on our All-Powerful, but All-Loving Creator! We have been created to “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways SUBMIT to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Instead, we have taken our eyes off of our Almighty Father and have believed the lie that WE are somehow in control of things. Let me repeat that…we have taken our eyes off of our Almighty Father and have believed the lie that WE are somehow in control of things. Isn't that the very thing that happened in the Garden of Eden? Isn't that what happened to the Israelites when they made an idol to worship? Isn't that how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness? Isn't that why we have certain unhealthy fears now? Because we are looking at how WE can or cannot control things. Our trust has shifted from GOD to ourselves. In some cases, we have created our own idols and have put our trust in someone else or something else. Think about that. It’s not always what we have invested in ourselves, but rather putting too much stock in someone else (not God).

WE JUMPED – I am not saying that getting past our fears is a snap of a finger, but I am saying that as we learn to re-align our dependence on His Power, His Strength and we learn to Fear God through complete dependence, reverence, humility and submission, we may find our unhealthy fears subside. We sometimes capsize our boat out in a mighty ocean (life) and we are doing everything to stay afloat and not be overcome by the waves (performance, raising kids, confrontations, security). We fear the water, the sharks, hypothermia and drowning. When the coast guard arrives to save us, all fear subsides. We are in good hands! Here is the difference: We jumped off God’s ship in the first place and it’s the very ship that protects us! He has had the lifeline within grasp, we have been too (fill in the blank) to grab it!

If you struggle with fear(s) in your life that you cannot seem to shake, I hope that you can begin a new journey of renouncing former lies that “it’s up to you” and can renew your mind with Jesus’ help as you learn to Fear only God and focus on your dependence on Him for EVERYTHING! Here is a crucial life verse for those of us struggling with unhealthy fears: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) It does not say I can do most things, it says “all”! Life is full of risks. Just remember that the results belong to The Lord!

*DO YOU BELIEVE? – Do you believe that God is in control? This is a big question to ponder. We see in the story of Job that God allowed satan to only go so far in his attacks against Job. We also know that God holds our life in his hands. If He wanted us to come home to Heaven right this second, He could take us. So, we may fear flying in planes because we are not in control of anything while in the air. Yet God is in control! If God could place all the stars in the sky and knows them all by name, I’m pretty sure he can protect your life if your time has not come! The point is, if it’s your time, He will take you home regardless of being 20,000 ft. in the air or walking down the street or sleeping in your bed. When you are able to place your security in Him, and only him, your fears that are control-based will eventually fade as you realize that He has a plan for your every moment in life! He has His best interest for you in mind. You are called to live a life that demonstrates to a lost and fearful world that you serve, love and worship a MIGHTY God who is worthy to be trusted with EVERYTHING!