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Have you ever experienced panic or dread? Life is full of the unexpected and we will occasionally encounter situations that stretch our emotional, mental and physical capacity. Fear and trepidation needn’t be part of our existence. During our lifetime, we may be affected by problems in a relationship, concerns about our children and grandchildren, job security, and finances. We may even be unfortunate enough to experience direct threats to our lives from criminal activities, domestic violence, accidents, ill health, etc.

What do we do when these things happen? Do we become so overwhelmed by the situation and the “what ifs”, that we overreact and end up too agitated to function in the present? Do we get angry and blame God? Do we argue with God and try to find out why this has happened?

It is at these times that we must stop and remember what Jesus, our beloved Lord and saviour said:

“Therefore, I tell you do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lillies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these …”

Matthew 6:25-35 (ESV)

Jesus tells us not to worry. In fact, there are many instances in the bible where we are commanded not to be afraid. In spite of this, we can rationalise worry and give ourselves excuses to hold onto fear. This can add up to many hours, days, weeks and months of wasted time and energy.

Ruminating on what distresses us invites a spirit of fear to take up residence in our minds. It clouds our vision, distorts our perception and paralyses us. Do we go so far into the frozen wastelands of fear that we can’t find our way back to the warm loving embrace of Father God?

Fear is the opposite of faith. It can lead us to lose our trust in God. Is this what we want for our lives? To be without hope? What a cold and colourless existence that would be. We may not be rescued from the situation, but God will be with us through it all and help us to endure it:

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you

Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

What we focus on reveals our hearts treasure. We have a choice to either dwell on the things that continue to feed our fears or to trust and hope in our all powerful loving God.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2

Sometimes, we may feel our faith is very small and insignificant. This is when we can repeat this prayer straight from the bible:

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

Put on some worship music. Open and read your bible. Call a good supportive friend. Reach out to God for help. He is interested in every area of your life. These things will change the atmosphere. The fear will disappear and the peace that surpasses all understanding will remain in its place.

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