Life is daunting. It is filled with circumstances that make us afraid—a new job, moving to a new city, navigating a difficult relationship—we've all been there. We feel suffocated under the pressure of fear, and we let it consume us. Too often, we accept fear and blend it into our personalities. But that’s not our only option!
God offers us peace.
God offers safety in his presence, no matter what comes up against us. Gabrielle discusses how Jesus helped her battle fear in an uncertain time in her podcast episode, “When You’re Afraid.” We always have the gift of running to Jesus for help in any situation. His guidance is always right and will always be right. He knows what we need when we are struggling and gives us the best advice for our situations.
When we’re afraid, Jesus is here to comfort us. He never condemns. “What’s wrong with you?!” and “Stop being so scared!” are never His words. His words bring clarity and peace, sounding more like, “You don’t have to be afraid. Trust me.” We often read scriptures that tell us not to fear, and our reaction is to feel shame. Instead of a shame response, what if you started a conversation with God to tell Him about your fears, concerns, and worries? As we talk to God about our fears, He removes them.
Here are some tips to help you when you're afraid:
Talk to God about your fears: Move from the monologue in your head to a dialogue with Holy Spirit. I promise you’ll find more peace that way. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalms 34:4 ESV)
Remember who your enemy is: Instead of criminalizing others or yourself, know who you are fighting against. Battles against fear are spiritual, and our enemy is the enemy. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
Be kind to yourself: Just as Jesus gives us grace, we need to give ourselves grace. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)
Reflection:
After reading this today, take a moment to reflect. Take a few minutes, maybe 2-3, and have a simple conversation with God. Ask him about the way you approach fear. Do you allow fear to stay with you? Do you morph it into your personality? Now ask God:
Do you think I should be afraid?
Do you want me to live in fear?
I encourage you to write down your conversation with God. Take a moment to journal about what you learned from God today.
Jesus desires peace for our souls. He wants us to be free from fear and self-condemnation. He wants you to be free from fear of your circumstances and difficult situations. Our battle belongs to Jesus; He is our champion.
To learn more about this topic, we suggest listening to Gabrielle’s Returning to Joy Podcast, “When You’re Afraid.” It offers more guidance and an in-depth discussion.
Thank you for reading, Beloved.
Abigael Rogers
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