If we think long enough, there are a lot of unknowns to fear. Something changes physically, and our minds jump to the worst-case scenario. Or an unexpected financial or relationship challenge can leave us reeling, searching for someplace solid to land our emotions and thoughts.
Friend, I am here to tell you that Jesus knows every fear. He knows the uncertainty and how it kills you. He understands the way you feel when your thoughts spiral and the tears won’t stop. And He invites you to lay your fears at His feet, to leave the future and the uncertainties with Him, and to trust that He is good and will only do good for you.
Fear is a lie from our enemy
Most of the things we worry over and anxiously obsess about never even happen. But that fear takes our joy, paralyzes us, and consumes our precious time. Fear steals our efforts that we could be putting into others and into God.
From the beginning of time, our enemy, the devil, has used fear to manipulate, discourage, and destroy us. He especially hates those who have chosen to follow Jesus, and uses well-crafted thoughts and fears to bring us down. His plan has always been to destroy the relationship between God and God’s children and to destroy us who are created in God’s image.
But the good news is that although his tricks may be crafted well and effective, they are as old as time, and God has given us His Word to combat any of the devil’s devices. Fear, one of his best tools, is not even reality. It is a lie.
And our Savior knows this. He does not judge us for being afraid. Instead, He sits with us in the fear and calmly invites us to hand our worries over to Him.
Fear is an invitation from our Savior
Something incredible clicked one day for me when I was revelling in the love of Jesus. He died for us, conquering sin and hell. But as amazing as the cross is, His resurrection is greater. Jesus conquered the one thing about life that everyone fears most, He conquered death.
If Jesus has the power over death, He has the power over everything about this life.
He has power over every fear. It is all in His hands.
And our Savior loves us so much, that even though fear is a lie and we have no reason not to trust Him, He doesn’t rebuke us when we are afraid. He gently invites us to lay our fears down, sometimes over and over, and to learn to trust Him.
Fear can be replaced by trust
Trusting Jesus for salvation is a one-time decision, but trusting Him to take away our fears is a daily invitation. The only way to truly replace fear with trust is through a deep, vibrant, and real relationship with our Savior.
I used to think that the opposite of fear and worry was complete certainty. But that just isn’t what God says. The opposite of fear is trust. Trust that God knows what will happen, trust that God is big enough to take care of us, and trust that God is good and only does good for His children.
Final thoughts
I have struggled with fear quite a bit these last few weeks. God has allowed some significant uncertainties to come up in my life, and I still do not have the answers. But I know the One who does.
More than anything, I know my God loves me. He is so crazy about me and each of you that He gave up heaven and died on a cross to save us. And I know that He will work everything out for my good, because He is good.
In the peace and hope of the One who calms all fears,
