We all are afraid of something. We all have some type of fear of something. It could be something like snakes, spiders, heights, travel, horses, big animals, the dark, etc.
There is no doubt that everyone has something in their lives that they fear. To one person that thing may seem insignificant, but to another person, that thing wreaks havoc.
It may not be a fear of something of a physical nature. It could be just a thought of something that causes one to be afraid, for example, the fear of failing or the fear of falling.
It could be that a person has a fear of the unexpected or that they have a fear that something is always going to go wrong or that something bad is going to happen or something bad will be the result of whatever situation that arises.
What Is Fear?
Fear, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is an often unpleasant, strong emotion brought about by anticipation, anxiety, or awareness of danger. It can also mean to be afraid or to be apprehensive.
You can do an internet search and find many definitions regarding fear. Simply put, fear is to be afraid of something.
Fear is a gloomy shadow that surrounds us and ultimately confines us within ourselves. Every one of us has been detained by fear at some time during our lives.
It could have been apprehension regarding refusal, abandonment, misinterpretation, unsureness, illness, or even the thought of death.
Have you ever noticed someone who seems to always expect the worst to happen? It appears as if that person expects something negative will always occur or they turn something from a positive into a negative.
You might hear them state, “It is too hot, it is too cold, it is too rainy, it is too windy, something might happen.” Or maybe they do not want to get involved in or with a social gathering because they might get their “feelings” hurt. It is as if they even want to avoid confronting others.
However, the releasing light of the Lord, from whom salvation springs forth, can help us to overcome fear. Like the psalmist, we should remember, those words, “The Lord is my light and my salvation,” if we want to eliminate fear and the darkness that comes with it.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28).
We can look at this as the Lord lighting a physical candle to dispel the darkness around us. We can also view this as the Lord filling us with His blessed heavenly light to block out the light of sin from within us. In Hebrew culture, light is a symbol of life, and it represents goodness and truth as well.
This verse is part of David’s praise of gratitude to God for His deliverance and victory. Calling upon God for strength and assistance is the only sure way to be freed from the dangers around you.
In Job 18:5-6, it speaks of the light and the candle of the wicked shall be put out. And then in Job 21:17, it tells us that not only is the candle of the wicked put out, but destruction comes to them as well. This refers to God putting out the lamps of the wicked, which is death (Psalm 118:6).
Is There Anyone to Fear?
When we realize that God provides for all of our needs, we can feel content. It appears that today's materialistic Christians are demonstrating by their actions that God does not care for them.
Or possibly that He will not deal with them in the way that they want. No matter how wealthy or poor we are, uncertainty can lead to a love of money. The main remedy is to trust God to address every one of our issues.
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation (Psalm 118:14).
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).
Look at the first four words of Isaiah 12:2: “Behold” is a verb that means to look at, to see, or to observe attentively.
The next few words, “God is my salvation,” designates that God is the source of salvation. From no other can we obtain salvation. “I will trust, and not be afraid.”
Trust is the assured reliance on something or someone. And, because of that trust, I do not have to be afraid of what comes at me. “For the Lord Jehovah.” You will notice the doubled reference of the Lord’s name.
This reminds us that God is the One that creates and fulfills all that was, all that is, and all that is to come. Now we can see that it leads to the last portion of the verse. “Is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
God creates and fulfills within us our strength, song, and salvation. And let us not forget our purpose. That comes from the Lord as well.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Can We Really Live Without Fear?
How can we be without fear and dread unless we abide in Christ? And what does it mean to abide in Christ? To abide in Christ means to believe that He is the Son of God (1 John 4:15). To abide in Christ means to accept Him as Lord and Savior (John 1:12).
To abide in Christ is to do what the Lord tells us to do (1 John 3:24). To abide in Christ is for us to continue in faith (1 John 2:24) and it is to join with fellow believers in the body of Christ (John 15:12).
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).
Jesus provided a great deal of reassurance to the disciples to strengthen their faith and courage, and He can do the same for us. He reassured them with a promise that He will come back, after preparing a place for them (John 14:2-3) and that by knowing Him they know the way to salvation (John 14:5-6).
Although Jesus rose from the dead and went to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He said that He would send the Holy Spirit down to earth to live inside the hearts of everyone who has faith in Christ and will live there forever (John 14:16-17).
And by having the Holy Spirit living within us is to have the Lord Jesus Himself living within us.
For those who believe in God, the Holy Spirit is His promise or guarantee of eternal life. We can count on eternal life with Christ because we have faith that He is in us now (Romans 8:9-11, Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Where is your heart today, living in fear, dread, and doubt? Or have you given your heart to Christ? Time is running short. Do not wait till tomorrow for what you should be doing today.
For further reading:
Should Christians Fear Oblivion?
What Does Faith Over Fear Really Mean?
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