Feeling The Fear

On a recent visit to the library on a beautiful, unusually warm, sunny, spring day, my youngest and I walked to the library while the rest of our crew were out having other adventures.

My youngest is obsessed with dinosaurs. He challenges the librarians almost weekly to find out if new books are on the shelves. He knows the exact location in the stacks for the nonfiction section having anything even remotely associated with paleontology.

I think the library has expanded this section or gotten books from other libraries to meet the demands of my child. Not really, but I have noticed more books on the shelf and my mommy reading before bedtime brain sincerely thanks the library for new selections.

On this particular trip, my son, entertained with his new books, I stepped across the stacks to peruse the latest arrivals on the nonfiction shelf. To my surprise, of the five shelves of new books, ten of the newest offerings were about fear. Ten titles on how to be fearless, combat fear, be brave and overcome what we are afraid of all stared back at me with glossy library covers and unbroken book bindings.

These aren’t self-published books, rather ones marketed by big-name publishers. Big publishers don’t print anything unless there is a proven demand for the subject matter.

How much do we fear that we have this many titles on the newest arrivals shelf?

God knew we would be fearful. He covers the topic of being afraid over and over again. From Genesis to Revelation, God provides us what we seek, which is reassurance things will turn out alright. Reassurance that He’s got this. Whatever “this” is.

He is the one is control.

I’ve fooled myself into thinking that I can handle whatever the world throws at me. The hard lesson I’ve learned is that controlling my fear is an illusion. There is no such thing as real control. We only conquer our fear by giving power over to God.

Eliminating our fear might not happen, but a sense of peace which God provides overtakes us. We can move forward in faith and beyond the doubt because we trust God is in control.

God has given us everything we need; He has sacrificed His Son for us. Is there anything He won’t give us? Won’t provide for us?

God has given us everything we need; He has sacrificed His Son for us. Is there anything He won't give us? Won't provide for us? Share on X

But what happens when what we fear comes to pass?

Romans 8:28 (NKJV), says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

We might lose hope for a moment, and it appears fear has won. The enemy wants us to think this way. Instead, God tells us all things work together for good to those who love God. It doesn’t say some of the things or a few of the things or one of the things. No, it means all things work together.

We might not know the reason at the time or even during our lifetime, but God knows what is best for us. It takes us fighting fear to get back to the path God wants for us.

How do you fight fear? Share it in the comments below to encourage others.