Fear is a distressing emotion. It holds you back from achieving God's plan. Fear makes us doubt God's promise in our lives and causes delays in fulfilling our purpose.
Fear cripples you and generates impossibilities in every challenge/test encountered. Fear causes you to perceive that you are inadequate.
The anointing of Saul as King was rather interesting; when Prophet Samuel called upon Saul to anoint him as king in the presence of the Israelites at Mizpah , he was no where to be found. Saul's insecurities and fear had gripped him so much that he hid himself by the provisions and supplies. This would have easily been a dangerous hindrance to his elevation.
Fear is a weapon the enemy uses to deter people from their destinies. Fear is an enemy to progress. It makes us view our background as a limitation to the great destiny that God has planned for us.
Let us look at the story of Gideon. Gideon was the son of Joash from the tribe of Manasseh. Gideon was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the hand of the Midianites. But fear crippled him and he could not apprehend the image of being a deliverer. Fear induced him to belittle himself because he was the youngest in his family and they were the least in his tribe.
When God gave him his first assignment to tear down the altar of Baal that belonged to his father and the Asherah that was beside it, he did it during the night while everyone was asleep because he was too afraid of the his relatives and the men of the city.
When the Midianites and Amalekites came to camp in the valley of Jezreel, Gideon sent messenger to all tribes of Israel to get fighting men to join him. With 32,000 men he still wasn't sure whether God would rescue Israel from the hands of the Midianites. He asked God for assurance and God lowered the number to 300 men and assured him of victory but again he still was timid. God led him to the enemies camp at night he allowed him hear a conversation of how the Lord would give the entire Midianites into his hands. This gave Gideon confidence and courage to fight them.
Fear is the root of anxiety. Fear caused Saul to go against God's command because he wanted to please the people. He spared the best of sheep, oxen, the lambs and everything that was good when the Lord sent him to eradicate the Amalekites. 1 Samuel 15:24. Then Saul said to Samuel, 'I have sinned; for i have transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because i feared the people and obeyed their voice. This fear compelled Saul to lose his kingship.
Do not allow anxiety rule over you, instead practice patience. Psalm 147:11 The Lord favors ... those who wait for His mercy and loving kindness.
Fear can incite you not to receive your miracle. The woman with the issue of blood for twelve years had tried many physicians but on the contrary her condition became worse. It was a taboo for someone in her condition to associate with people or be seen in any gathering. But when she heard about Jesus, she decided to overcome her fears and permeate through the throng to Jesus and received her miraculous healing.
How do we conquer fear?
1. Have Confidence in God.
Deuteronomy 31:8. It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you nor abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
1 Chronicles 28:20. Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and take action; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, is with you. He will not fail you nor abandon you...
2. Believe that Christ resides in you .You are not alone in this world but believe that Christ lives in you as a christian, and that through life's challenges, he fights with you. He says you are a victorious in Him.
3. Do not be anxious but pray in everything. Romans 8:32. He who did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
4. Face your fears.
There was a giant that inhabited the camp of the Philistines by the name Goliath who had become a terror to the Israelite's for more than a month. To be precise for forty(40) days he made mockery of them and no one was confident enough to fight him. Until David, a young man showed up and decided to fight him. David chose courage rather than fear and eliminated the giant and saved the nation of Israel that was paralyzed by fear. This exalted David to Commander of the army and later on the King of Israel.
Knowing that God has got your back on everything gives you confidence to step out there and do your calling.
Fear should become a stepping stone and not a stumbling block-Cora Jakes Roberts.
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