We Don’t Have to Live in Fear

Fear is a powerful factor in our lives. It can be helpful or harmful. When it is fear of what is truly destructive to our well-being, it is for our good. But when groundless fear produces needless worry and unrest , it is harmful.

The Bible teaches us many lessons about fear. On one side it instructs us to fear. Prov. 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and Prov. 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” On the other side it instructs us to: “Fear not!” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” We need fear of some things in order to protect ourselves and stay healthy, but in spiritual matters we do not have to live in fear. We have to have a healthy respect for the devil because he is always there trying to separate us from God.

It is a little hard to understand in I John 4:18 when it says that “perfect love drives out fear” because nothing about us is perfect. But I believe it means that because God is love and if he is in control of our lives we don’t need to live in fear, if we have complete faith in him.

On the other hand, Satan is a master of using our fears to keep us from being effective Christians. He uses worry and fear to make our lives miserable. When we overcome our fears we will be happy and productive people serving God to the best of our ability knowing that we are going to sometimes make mistakes, but He has allowed for that through his grace.

We are putting ourselves at risk every morning we get up and go out in the world, but thanks be to God we don’t have to live in fear because of the promises He has made to us. If we dwelled on what could happen to us we would never do anything. But if we have faith that God truly is in charge, we will not let fear rule our lives. May the peace of God lead us each day.
— Jim Keevert