Fearing The Worst
We are the ones who choose to fear
Reference: He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. (1 Chronicles 13:13 NIV)
Explore: We are only born with two fears – the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means, every other fear we have, we learn throughout our lives.
There are some very common fears, like the fear of heights, snakes or spiders. These things may stop us from being a little bit adventurous outside, however, there are more debilitating fears which can have a greater effect.
Often, due to fear, we don’t take risks, we don’t push ourselves out of our comfort zone, and we don’t speak up when we have something to contribute. This can hold us back and limit the gifts God has given us.
Fear can hold us back from standing up for someone who has been treated unjustly. Fear can stop us from reaching our dreams. Fear can put a lid on our potential. But only if we choose to allow it to.
Application: God did not give us a spirit of fear. We are the ones who choose to fear. And we come from a long line of people who choose fear!
Even the great King David, who conquered thousands of his enemies, held back due to fear. He feared bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city, and so, missed out on months of blessing from God. When we read this story we can understand why he had the fear, but we can also see how he missed out because of it.
Our lives can be the same. Through our circumstances we can worry about many things and often feel justified to do so. Yes, life can be scary and fears can feel so real, but let’s not forget who we worship.
When we choose fear, we limit ourselves to our own capabilities. When we choose God, we are open to His capabilities.
Prayer: Lord, our fears can seem so real at times. Help us not to focus on that which we’re afraid of, but help us to see what You are capable of. Amen.
Which fear is holding you back?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.