Putting Fear in Its Place

Although the Bible says “Be anxious for nothing,” (Philippians 4:6), I’ve always found obeying this command much easier said than done. Even with the best of intentions, when a big enough problem put my faith to the test, I found being anxious for nothing a real challenge.

 Courageous: A great movie about courage!

That was until I heard Pastor Romaine’s insightful teaching about trusting God when our circumstances would strike fear in our hearts and keep us from obeying what God has called us to.

Today God calls us to be anxious for noting. In Pastor Romaine’s teaching, God had called the Israelites to enter the promised land—a land flowing with milk and honey. However, when Joshua and the spies returned from scouting out the land, ten of the twelve spies brought back a discouraging report to the Israelite camp, claiming there were giants in the land, who they would be no match against.

Putting their fear in proper prospective, here Pastor Romanine brilliantly shares, “God had given them water from the rock, given them manna, fought all their battles up to that point, and all of a sudden [they believed] God couldn’t take them any further. That’s what happens to us. God can get you saved, give you everlasting life, and prepare a place for you. It says in John 14 ‘Where I am, there you may be also, because I’ve gone to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you, because I want you with Me.’ So we’re willing to believe, ‘Yeah, okay, I’ve got everlasting life. I go to be with the Lord. I don’t have to worry about it. That’s all been taking care of. Now all I have to worry about is how am I going to get the rent?”1 

Ever since I heard this, I now see that if God has totally secured my eternal life, taking care of my greatest need, whatever problems come my way, God will be faithful to provide for (Philippians 4:19) and deliver me from (Psalm 34:17,19). God faithfully providing in the lives of the Israelites, time and again,  before they scouted out the promised land, was more than enough proof that He loved them and was not about to abandon them and leave them to fend for themselves—especially now when they needed Him most. (Joshua 1:3-5)

The same goes for us. If we look back at the faithfulness of God in our life, it’s obvious that God loves us, cares for us, and has no intentions on leaving us or forsaking us—especially when we need Him most. (Isaiah 41:13)

So the next time we are faced with discouraging circumstances, we can rest easy that God, who has been faithful to provide for and deliver us in the past, will be faithful to provide for our needs, and deliver us from all our problems, despite how intimidating our circumstances appear.

As we take every fearful thought captive, and remember all that God has done for us, and all God promises to do for us, we can put our fears to rest and face each trial with eager anticipation of God’s faithful provision and deliverance in this circumstance. Perhaps this excitement for how God is going is going to work a problem to good (Romans 8:28) is partly why James instructs, “Count it all joy when you fall into trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2)
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1 Romaine, L.E., The Legacy of a Servant - MP3. Obedience. The Word for Today, January 1, 2004

Let Your Mind Dwell on These Things 

(Philippians 4:8)

Fear not, for I am with you;
      Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
      I will strengthen you,
      Yes, I will help you,
      I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,
      Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13 )

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 )



Copyright © 2011 Brooke Espinoza.