Faith Over Fear

"Fear not" is the most repeated command in the Bible, but is a common problem that Christians face. How can we choose to have faith rather than fear?

There are many commands in the Bible - obey your parents, serve no other gods before Me, love your neighbors as yourself, and the list goes on - but the most repeated command is simply fear not. It's hard to tell if this was done with purpose or if it just so happened that that was the most repeated command in the Bible. Whatever the intention, I see this as a great reminder that we should not be afraid because God has got us in His hands and He is in control. There are so may great verses throughout the Bible reminding us not to fear.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Not only does it say that God is our refuge and strength, but it also states that He will protect us through whatever comes our way. The verse specifically mentions all of these disasters happening on the earth, but this also applies to anything happening in our day to day lives. Though people may ridicule you, though your thoughts might be daunting, though the world may seem shut down due to Covid - we will not fear because God is in control.

Last March when Covid started flooding the US, I remember the outbreak of panic and fear that was surging around the nation. People were buying many groceries and personal items (toilet paper included) in bulk, they were calling out of work because they didn't know what was going to be happening in the world, they kept their children home from school, they stayed away from their families and stayed home. I'm not saying this was a bad reaction because this was something new - we didn't know what was happening. I'm saying all of that to say this: Though the world around me was full of panic and fear, I chose to have faith in my God rather than fear. Every morning before work, I would listen to my worship playlist. I kept God's promises and command to fear not in my heart as I went to work with parents and coworkers who were full fear. As a person who's apt to worry about things or have uncalled for fears, I was surprised that I felt no fear or anxiety about this whole virus outbreak. As I continued pressing into God - watching more church services than usual, reading the Bible and Bible plans daily, and listening to worship music any chance I got - it started making sense that I wasn't fearful.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Just as I had decided to take a stand against the unprecedented amount of panic and fear last year, you can take that stand, too. You need to make a valiant effort to choosing to have faith rather than fear the circumstances. It doesn't necessarily need to happen in the outbreak of a pandemic, either. You can take this stand against whatever you are fearing rather than having faith about it. If you're afraid to step into your calling because of what other people may think, if you're afraid to share your beliefs with others, if you're afraid of what the future may hold - give it to God. Pray! He will comfort you and give you His peace. He will help you in the way that only He can.

Think about that mountain that's standing in your way, that concern that you are fearing rather than choosing to have faith in God. Pray and give the situation to God. Make the first step in choosing faith over fear.