It’s amazing how many things people can be afraid of. There’s the fear of sickness, job loss, failure, commitment and public speaking. Some people are afraid of things like taking tests, swimming, animals, insects, heights or even what the future holds — and the list goes on!
Whatever the fear may be, it’s important to know that it does not come from God. In fact, fear is one of the primary weapons Satan uses to keep people from fulfilling God’s destiny for their lives.
So I ask you: What are you afraid of today? Is there a situation or circumstance that threatens to overwhelm you? Is something stealing your peace and causing you to worry? If so, I want to encourage you to know that God sees you, He loves you and He wants you to trust Him to help you!
First John 4:18 (NIV) says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…” Understanding how much God loves us and desires to help us is the antidote for fear.
When I think of my own children — especially when they were younger — there’s almost nothing I wouldn’t do to help them if they were in trouble. If we feel this way about our children, then how do you think God feels about us? And unlike us, He has no limitations. Nothing is impossible with Him — He can help us in every situation, on every occasion.
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV) says: “… God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'”
God wants you to know that He’s always going to take care of you as you place your trust in Him — always. You don’t have to know His exact timing or how He will do it, but you can be assured that He will always meet your needs.
“Do It Afraid!”
We need to understand that when the Lord tells us not to fear, He’s not saying we will never feel fear. We will all feel afraid at various times in our lives; however, He is telling us not to allow fear to control us and prevent us from moving forward.
True courage is moving forward in the face of fear. You still feel fear, but you are determined — with God’s help — to move forward anyway.
When we feel fear, we have a choice — we can do it afraid!
In the early days of my ministry, I was invited to speak at a conference. One of the speakers had canceled, and I was their replacement. I wasn’t one of the primary speakers — they asked me to conduct one of the smaller workshops.
When the day came, all of the workshop speakers had to get up on stage and share what they would talk about the next day. I remember the other speakers having titles like pastor, reverend and so forth. But I was just Joyce from Fenton, Missouri — a nobody from nowhere.
When it was my turn to talk, I was absolutely petrified. The 900 people in the audience looked like nine million to me. I was so scared that when I opened my mouth, nothing came out but a squeak. Right then, I wanted to run off the stage. I could hear the enemy’s thoughts running through my mind: What do you think you’re doing here? Who do you think you are?
But in spite of the fear, I took a deep breath, started again and shared what my workshop was about. The next day, to my surprise, many people came to hear me speak. I thank God I didn’t run from fear that day, because I would have missed out on a great opportunity He had in store for me!
Satan wants us to shrink back in fear and live tiny, useless lives. But God desires for us to live free from the effects of fear and live big, fulfilling lives!
In John 14:27 (AMP), Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge].”
This is both a promise and a command. Through Jesus Christ, we can enjoy supernatural peace that goes beyond anything the world can offer. But we also have a part to play. God is saying, “Don’t allow yourself to be paralyzed with fear. Refuse to let the enemy stop you!”
Remember, whatever you’re facing today, God is bigger than your worries, your problems and your fears. He knows every one of your needs before you ever have them, and He delights in taking care of you. So you can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper — I will not fear!”
Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries. {eoa}
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored 130 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and How to Age Without Getting Old (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org.
Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.
