"Fear"

Fear is something that gets to everyone at one point in their life. During these current COVID times, it is very easy to be overcome by fear. It is a reality that we face by living in an imperfect world. COVID-19 has put our world into a shadow of fear. These fears could be contracting the virus, being lonely from isolation, not knowing what the future holds, wondering if we are going to be able to support ourselves and the ones we love, worrying about dying or the ones we love dying, and overall feeling like we’ve lost control of our lives. We have become afraid of how we are going to handle our lives after being altered so dramatically by this virus. This week, to me, it seemed as though the media was focused on the negativity surrounding COVID-19. When seeing this, I was overcome with fear. On top of the fear of coronavirus, there are still some of the stresses and fears that are unrelated to COVID-19. I was also overcome with fear from another situation that I will be facing in the coming weeks. Throughout these fears, my focus had shifted from my heavenly Father to the situations that I felt had overcome me. When that happened, I became very focused and caught up in my fear.

Someone in my church family recently told me that God calls us to not live in fear. Once I heard that I realized that I had been living in fear and decided I needed to shift my perspective. I thought about what they said and opened up God’s Word to see what he says about fear. I believe that the only way to battle fear is with God. When looking through my Bible, these are the verses I found, read, and meditated over:

• Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

• Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

• Isaiah 41:10: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

• Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

• Psalm 56:3-4: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

• Proverbs 3:24-26: If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

• John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

When I read and meditated on the verses above I came to the realization that even though I may be living in a scary time I do not have to be afraid. I know that nothing comes as a surprise to the Lord and that there is nothing that He cannot do. I know that no matter what I go through, His hand is on me and protecting me. He is my Heavenly Father and I can find strength and comfort in Him. Our prayer is as we continue to go through scary and intimidating situations when we are feeling fearful, that we do not live in fear and we are not overcome by it. We need to remind ourselves that God did not call us to live in fear but in His trust.

Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.