The Truth About Fear

by Stephanie A. Mayberry

Fear is a CHOICE.

Now wait, hear me out.

God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7) therefore, it is NOT natural to us. It is imposed upon us by the enemy who seeks to drive us from God, divide us, make us fearful of taking steps to serve God and draw closer to Him.

The enemy posts guards at the gates of those places where we can receive the greatest edification and experience the greatest spiritual growth: church, gatherings of fellowship, our prayer, our relationships, Bible studies, our praise, our worship – anywhere that would allow us to draw closer to God and grow in Him.

There is no fear that is natural. No fear is of God – ever.

These guards try to torment us, intimidate us and create fear within us. They use people, situations and even our own minds.

But to understand the spirit of fear is to KNOW that it is NOT of God.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So we can choose to recognize fear for what it is, a tool of the enemy to hinder our walk with God, or we can choose to remain fearful and hide.

Either way, it is your soul that hangs in the balance and your spiritual growth will be affected.

So what do you choose?

Fear is the opposite of faith. I see so many people who live in fear, bound so tightly they make themselves physically sick. Fear is the root of so many things that are not Godly:

• Worry
• Hate
• Prejudice
• Not staying true to the Word
• Paralysis in spirit and works
• Lack of faith
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Loneliness
• Living for the world
• Doubting God

Yes, fear will hinder your walk with God. If you are afraid of being shunned or facing repercussions for what you believe, whether it is in your social group (“friends”), your job or your family, if you are afraid that they will mock you or turn away from you then you are allowing fear to impede your relationship with God.

Some people may say that staying true to the Word causes hate and prejudice, but that is a lie!

The Bible teaches us to love each other, everyone, but to abhor the behaviors that are ungodly. It isn’t prejudice, it is refusing to accept behaviors that the Bible teaches us are wrong.

Isaiah 5:20 (NASB) ~²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; 
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; 
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Stand by what you know to be right, even if everyone else is standing on the opposite side because if you are standing on the side of God, you can’t go wrong.

Don’t let fear rule you. The devil uses fear to keep your feet stuck in the mud so you can’t go forward, you can’t reach others and you can’t grow. He uses it to make you hide your light so others can’t be exposed to the Truth through you.

It takes courage to stand against the ever growing crowd that is pressing us to accept the ways of the world, pressing us to accept what is evil and call it good. And fear is a very effective tool. People fear losing their friends, their families, support systems, jobs. They fear being shunned, publically humiliated, and “called out” on what is twisted into hate (when in fact it is just a refusal to accept what is ungodly or evil).

But fear is also death.

If you are living in fear, you will never go forward.

If you are living in fear, you will slip further and further into the ways of the world.

If you are living in fear, you will move farther away from God.

If you are living in fear, you will not be able to show others the Truth and lead them to God. You will deny them the knowledge of everlasting life because you were too afraid to step out and be set apart.

Stand strong in your faith today. Step out and let yourself be set apart.

1 John 2:15 (NASB) ~ 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Romans 12:2 (NASB) ~ ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB) ~  ⁹ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

I am GLAD to be different, to be set apart! I thank you GOD for setting me apart from this world! All I need, I have in Jesus Christ.

And I am living in FAITH NOT FEAR!

Everything hinges on having a prayer life. You can’t have a marriage if you only talk to your spouse when you are upset or need something. You can’t maintain a friendship if you only call them in times of trouble. And you can’t have a relationship with God if the only time you call on Him is when you need something.

He desires a relationship with you.

God is not a genie in a bottle that you can call up to grant your wishes. He is seeking a relationship with you. He desires a relationship with you.

Set aside time every day to pray and read your Bible. Praying is how you talk to God; His Word is how He talks back. Jesus provided a wonderful example for us to emulate. He had a rich prayer life. It is vital that you have a prayer life that is consistent and constantly growing. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. That means that we are to be connected to God – in the spirit – all the time – without ceasing.

God gave you the Holy Ghost; He did not give you the spirit of fear. That means you can choose. Choosing God brings peace. But it also brings liberty – freedom from the bondage of fear.