Fighting Fear in a Fearfilled World-Part 1.

Worldwide pandemics, murderous insects, and shortages on toilet paper make the world a scary place. The list of what we should fear seems to be growing by the day and never appears to get any shorter.

However, fear can be a good thing.  For example, fear keeps us from running with scissors or taking selfies too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon.  Fear prevents us from talking back to our mamas and throwing rocks at bears.  Also, a healthy respect for The Almighty is always a good idea.  

Bio-Fears  

The fear that keeps us from stepping into oncoming traffic is a gift. “Bio-fears” are survival instincts biologically encoded in our brains to ensure the continuation of our species and to promote quality of life.  Just as our caveman kin used their eyes and ears to sense predators, our “bio-fears” protect us and prolong our lives. 

However, “bio-fears” that aid in our survival should never be confused with the fear that consumes our spirit.  Consuming fear has many names: worry, anxiety, fret, angst, dread, dismay. You get the point.  In contrast to “bio-fears,” consuming fear threatens to overtake our spirit.  While “bio-fears” are a gift, fear of the spirit is most certainly a stronghold meant to damage or even detract from our relationship with Christ. 

Fear of the spirit is most certainly a stronghold meant to damage or even detract from our relationship with Christ. Click To Tweet

This all-consuming, unhealthy fear of the spirit is a favorite instrument of the enemy who’s always looking for a chink in our armor. Satan’s lies are like a fine mist that only needs the smallest opening to take hold. 1 Peter 5:8.  Even the strongest minds are susceptible to being led astray by the enemy’s cunning. 2 Corinthians 11:3. Which means we have to be all the more prepared. And preparation comes through reading God’s Word and prayer. Ephesians 6:10-18.

Fear is a big enemy, which requires large defenses. As a result, this is part one of a series of posts directed at fighting fear with the Father.

Fear is nothing new

Sometimes it can feel as though there is more to fear today than ever before, but fear is nothing new. A quick Google search offers a daily calendar of 365 verses to help conquer my fear de jour. There are more than a hundred verses that specifically mention the words fear, anxiety, anguish, calm, courage, and bravery. What this tells me is that God knew we’d struggle with fear.

He knows fear threatens His children and makes us vulnerable. It’s no wonder then that the scripture is always reminding us that we are not alone because God is with us. Isaiah 41:10. We have a safe place, a constant refuge. Psalm 91:4.

Failing at Fear

Even with all of the Scriptures telling me to settle down and stop freaking out, I fail at fear. More than once, I have let my guard down and allowed the devil to take up shop in my brain.

The fear takes up all the space in my head, heart, and home.  I have a laser focus on the problem and the “what-ifs.” I fall into bed and pull the covers over my head in a feeble attempt to hide between thread counts from the boogeyman of the moment. 

It has taken years and many fear-filled assaults for me to realize I am doing much of the devil’s work for him.  When life is good and flowing along to my expectations, my Bible lays unopened by my bed.  My prayers are flat.  Suddenly, crisis hits, and I start scrambling: playing worship music, reading the Word, sitting on the front pew at church, even throwing a little something extra in the offering plate (like that works). 

Yet, each time I wonder, will He take my pleas seriously?  More times than I can count, I have been that one in a hundred that the Shepard has had to leave the flock to find. Like the friend who always asks for our advice and then does the complete opposite.  Or the relative who only calls when they need money.  Eventually, we will roll our eyes and ignore them.  And to be honest, that is what I deserve.  But that is never what I receive. It’s never what any of us will ever receive. God will not leave us behind. Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5. Again, thank God! 

God knows what we need if we will make just a pinhole of space for him. In the thick of our fear, He will show us the way out.   

The Way Out

Fighting fear and anxiety is a battle. Ephesians 6:1 reminds us to be strong in the Lord. We will fail if we try to defeat fear on our own because the fight is more than we can manage by ourselves. However, we’re not alone in this fight. Ever. The Lord is faithful, and He gives us strength and protection. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Once we lean into the Lord and His Word, we can make a stand. Fighting fear takes action. Lucky for us, there is an action plan already laid out for us in the Word, a literal “how-to” guide for fighting fear. With that in mind, let’s “take all the help [we] can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting [we’ll] still be on [our] feet.” Ephesians 6:13-18. (MSG).

Fighting fear takes action. Click To Tweet

Step 1: Suit Up

Step 1: Suit Up. A soldier doesn’t go into battle wearing a Speedo. Fighting battles means putting on the right gear. Granted, not many of us have Kevlar vests in our closets. Most of us stay stocked with cotton-polyester blends. Not to worry, fear-fighting armor is not in your closet; it’s in Ephesians 6:14-17.

The Belt of Truth

Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue.  Fear is a tyrant, he's always telling me to run.  Claude Ely--Ain't No Grave Click To Tweet

First, the belt of truth. Fear whispers in our ears that we’re not enough, alone, worthless, or screwed up beyond salvaging. All. Lies.

Fear is a fight with an enemy who loves to employ psychological warfare. Don’t fall for it. Truth is our weapon to fight the enemy’s mind games. Remember, we are called to a purpose Ephesians 2:10, we are chosen and dearly loved Colossians 3:12, we’re redeemed Isaiah 44:22, and the battle is already won 1 John 5:4.

Fight fear with truth.

Breastplate of Righteousness

A belt, I get. But a “what of huh?”

Righteousness

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to be righteous is to be free from guilt or sin, morally right or justifiable. Wait! Don’t stop reading.

Here is where I would typically throw up my hands and say, “well, that ain’t me. Not even close.” But I am wrong. And if you think like I do, then you’re wrong too.

No one is righteous on their own. We’re going to sin. Romans 3:23. We will not get it right all the time. Most of the time, we’ll struggle and drop the ball. Hebrews 12:4. But that is ok. Righteousness is a pursuit. 1 Timothy 6:11. Best of all, righteousness comes through faith in God. Philippians 3:9 and Romans 3:24. Now, that is good news. The good news.

Breastplate

A breastplate is the front portion of armor that covers the torso. The idea being that missile-type weaponry, such as arrows, would bounce off rather than puncturing the body.

A basic understanding of human anatomy is an unspoken job requirement for prosecutors. I have witnessed autopsies and read a hundred more autopsy reports. The majority of critical organs are housed in the torso: the heart, lungs, stomach, and major arteries. Furthermore, those organs are protected by nothing more than skin and ribs. The torso is vital and vulnerable.

When you think of all that a breastplate protects, suddenly a breastplate of righteousness makes sense: God-given armor that prevents the enemy’s arrows from piercing our heart.

Fight fear with righteousness.

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Lastly, we are given shoes of readiness from the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:15-17. Peace, Faith, Salvation, the Spirit, and the Word of God are all gifts of love given through the Son.

Having faith in Christ paves the way for our righteousness. Romans 3:25. Jesus is our Peace. Ephesians 2:14. Our salvation comes through Christ alone. John 14:6. “Through him, we have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18. Finally, Jesus was the Word made flesh. John 1:14. Christ is our readiness of peace, our shield, our helmet, and our sword.

It’s no coincidence that God gifted all of these weapons through the greatest gift, His Son, Jesus Christ. God loves us and sent his Son for our salvation. John 3:16. Jesus is the ultimate weapon against fear because there is no fear in love. His perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18.

Jesus is the ultimate weapon against fear because there is no fear in love. His perfect love drives out fear. 1 John 4:18.. Click To Tweet

Fight fear with the Son.

Heavenly Father, thank you for never leaving us to fight our own battles. Speak to us in our moments of fear and worry. Calm our fears. Ease our anxieties. Build our resolve. Remind we are loved and direct us to your Word. Amen.

Scarlet

Blog Bonus: Claude Ely wrote Ain’t No Grave when he was 12 years old. His family thought he was on his deathbed. The doctors said he wasn’t gonna make it. They were wrong. Ely went on preaching faith over fear for more than 60 years.

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