What causes fear in our lives? I can think of many things: guilt, ignorance, the future, our weakness, and even our victories.
Sometimes fear is caused by a guilty conscience. For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, they felt guilty and became afraid; and they tried to hide from God.
Whenever we disobey God, we feel like we’ve lost our close fellowship with Him, and that spiritual loneliness creates fear.
Fear from guilt makes us wonder if anybody knows what we have done. We worry about being found out and hope no tragic consequences come from our sins.
Of course, the solution to that problem is to seek God’s forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 (CEV)
9 But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
God promises to cleanse our sins if we will but confess them and forsake them.
Often fear is caused by ignorance. For example, children are afraid at night because the shadows look like giants, bears, and ghosts. But even adults can get frightened when they don’t know what is going on.
Anxiety about the future, either for ourselves or for our loved ones, can sometimes create fear.
Another cause is our feeling of weakness. We are so accustomed to managing things ourselves that we feel helpless and afraid when an unmanageable crisis comes along.
Sometimes fear comes, not before the battle or even during the battle, but after winning the victory.
Abraham had this experience in Genesis 15, after waging war against four powerful kings and winning the victory. As he lay down to sleep, Abraham wondered if those kings would return, rechallenge him, and even bring back superior forces.
What did God tell him when he was lying in his bed shaking from fear?
Genesis 15:1 (CEV)
1 Later the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision, “Abram, don’t be afraid! I will protect you and reward you greatly.”
What’s at the root of these types of fear? It’s simple: the real cause of fear is unbelief. Fear and faith can never be friends, and if we are afraid, it is a sign that we have little faith.
Overcome these types of fear with faith in God. He is will you and will protect you. There is no reason to fear.
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