How much power do you give your fears? Perhaps you have never really sat down and asked yourself that question – but maybe it’s time. How much power do I give my fears?
Friend, honestly I wonder why we give power to our fear at all? We don’t have to. There is no great benefit from it. The internal tension can’t be good for us. The stress causes a loss of sleep and clarity of mind – it messes with us. Fear robs me of healthy trusting relationships, it steals my peace, it shatters my hopes, it freezes my purpose.
It’s easy to slip into a state of fear. My guess fear is easier to focus on because we tend to focus on ourselves rather easily. No wonder we are afraid! We know our limits! We realize that we lack strength for this day – let alone the multitude of days before us. Even if we believe ourselves to be intelligent people, we are aware that our intelligence only takes us so far. On our own we lack the true wisdom that we need to face the circumstances and challenges life brings.
We can live in fear- consumed by our worries – living with a self-focus, or we can make the decision to shift our eyes and our thoughts to One who is greater than ourselves. When we focus on the One our fears melt away like wax before Him. Why? Our situation and circumstance – every challenge we face is no longer dependent on what I can bring but on what God brings. This God stands ready to fight for us. This God stands ready to help us. This God stands ready to heal us. This God stands ready to save us. He cannot and will not be overcome. This is why when our eyes are on Him and who He is our fears fade away.
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (Psalm 46:1-3)
God is the One who will conquer our struggles if we let Him. God is the One who gives victory. Friend, it is our faith in Him that counters our fears in the world. Faith extinguishes fear.
When we live with a faith focus we are lavished with God’s gifts and blessings. We find an overwhelming sense of peace in the midst of life’s storms. We find hope that will not be squelched. We are filled with the love of the Father. Our eyes see the work of His hand all over our situation. Faith extinguishes our fears. Let us then choose to change our focus – not on the mountains that lie before us – but on the One who moves mountains!
Blessings!