“I testify in hope that you [too] can be convinced to seek the ultimate source of fearlessness- a living, breathing, committed relationship with God, and faith so strong that it motivates you to action without guarantee.” –Yvonne Chiedzai-Mtengwa (Dear Fear 2)

Philippians 3:10, 13-14

I remember fear gripping me so tight one night that I lost my breath and started to hyperventilate. Even now, some years later, I experience a quickened pulse at the memory. Fear is a debilitating emotion, and it manifests in so many ways. It can paralyze you. It can cause you to act irrationally. It can cause you to respond prematurely. It can cause you to develop pictures in your mind that never happen. The definition of fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” The question for humans is how can we live a productive life knowing that the threat of danger, pain, or harm is potentially always around?

I used to think that faith was the absence of fear; however, a quote by Matt Chandler gave me reason to reconsider: “Faith doesn’t mean an absence of fear. It means facing fear and trusting that God’s goodness is greater.” When I now think back to that moment when fear caused me to lose my breath, I realize that I temporarily lost the understanding that God is so much bigger than any threat of danger, pain, or harm. He is so much greater than any challenge that the devil can toss at me. He is stronger than any menacing terror that comes to my mind. Living a life of fearlessness means operating in God’s love (1 John 4:18.) Fear brings a sense of dread. God’s perfect love brings a sense of comfort, peace, and security.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans to prosper us, plans of a hope and a future. This should be enough to help us not to fear, but that’s easier said than done. What we have to do is meditate so much in the Word and focus on His promises, that there is no room for anything else. I remember the first time I was introduced to Philippians 3:10, 13-14. I was about 17 years old and still learning about the Word. My pastor at the time was very passionate about explaining to us the importance of operating in the power of Jesus Christ. Fear often looks behind, while faith and love looks forward. As Philippians 3:13-14 says, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

If we are pressing towards the mark, we have no time for fear. We have no time to be focused on the past: failures, hurts, regrets, the “what ifs.” We can't be captive to what was or what could have been. While there is no guarantee that we will have what we want in life, there is guarantee that we will have what we need if we focus our efforts on Christ. Our faith makes us free from fear. Our confidence is in Him. Our assurance is in Him! When I now am tempted to fear, I begin to meditate on the 23rd Psalm: He is my Shepherd and I shall not want.

Prayer for Release: Heavenly Father, Your love is so much greater than anything I can be afraid of. Being captive to fear is debilitating and not of You. Help me to learn how to seek Your love first when I am tempted to fear.