Worry. Part 1: Faith vs. Fear July 4, by Connie Nelson Outlook Magazine Blogs

Transcription

1 Worry by Connie Nelson Outlook Magazine Blogs Part 1: Faith vs. Fear July 4, 2017 Introduction In 2012, when I was in the midst of a separation that eventually ended in divorce, I was worried, scared, anxious Would he come back? Would I make it alone? I did not even have a steady job! Money? Insurance? The kids school bills? The cars? The house remodel we were still working on? I was terrified! Perhaps you too, have anxious moments when the bills add up to more than the bank account or when the phone rings and the news is bad. After months of sobbing prayers with few words, I realized I was doing a lot of worrying and God tells us not to worry. In fact, I had heard there were 365 verses in the Bible which said, Do not fear. I decided to look into what the Bible had to say read every verse on the topic! This study took much of my personal worship time for a few months. I had never undertaken a project like this before. Instead of picking up a book by a human author to have them explain the Bible to me, I picked up my Bible and used on online source to look up every instance of the words fear, worry, afraid and anxiety. I found God speaking to me in ways He had not had the opportunity to before. The answers I found were very thorough, specific, easily understood much better than I expected. In keeping with my personal rule of keeping blog posts short, there will be several parts to this series. The titles will include: Faith vs. Fear The Results of Fear What Will They Think of Me? No Fear in Battle Like an Infection God Hears And He is There! My Value Antidotes to Fear God is God Be Strong and Courageous W o r r y, P a g e 1 13

2 By the way, a very large percentage of the do not fear verses in the Bible are actually talking about peoples who do not fear the God of heaven, thus have nothing to do with the fear and anxiety of daily life. There are still a very large number of verses which are applicable and we will be looking at many of them. So, let s get on with part 1! Faith vs. Fear Fear. Worry. These are human emotions we all have at times. Worry, fear, and anxiety are all similar emotions. At the appropriate time, fear can trigger a great gift God instilled in us releasing hormones in our bodies which make us better able to deal with an emergency situation. However, God tells us repeatedly in the Bible, Do not fear, and, Do not worry. If fear can be a gift from God and a natural emotion, why would God tell us not to have fear and worry? Is worry or fear a sin? How can we avoid it? These are some of the questions I have explored and believe I have found many answers in the Bible. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV This verse clearly states two fruits of the Christian life will be faith and peace. Both of these are the opposite of fear or worry. At times in the Bible someone is told to show faith and not fear. For example, there is a story in the old testament which took place during a famine. The prophet Elijah was directed by God to go to a town in another country. When he arrived he found a woman about to make the last bit of flour she had into bread for her and her son, believing they would both die after that. And Elijah said to her, Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 1 Kings 17:13 NKJV In spite of her fear for her life and that of her son, she showed faith and followed the prophet s direction. For the rest of the famine, they had just enough flour and oil in their house each day to make bread. God rewarded her for showing faith and not fear. Jesus makes a statement in Mark 4:40 (NKJV), But He said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? This tells us that fear is present when faith is lacking. Similar to the previous story regarding a relationship between the opposite of faith and fear. Could it be that faith pushes out fear? It also appears from two texts that fear does not come from God: For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 and For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 8:15 Additionally Jesus states what He does give us, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 NKJV If God gives us faith and peace but does not give us fear, where does fear come from? For this answer we need to go to the very beginning, the Garden of Eden. The very first time fear entered this planet was there, following the first sin. Adam stated, I was afraid. (Genesis 3:10) Fear is a result of sin. Sin comes from Satan. If fear comes as a result of sin, then fear comes from Satan not God. W o r r y, P a g e 2 13

3 If fear does not come from God, and God asks us not to fear, if must not be good for us. What are the results of fear? We will talk about that next week. Part 2: The Results of Fear July 11, 2017 God would never ask us to avoid something that was good for us. So why would He tell us not to fear? While there are likely many reasons, here we will discuss four specifically stated in the Bible. First, it appears in Job that perhaps when we have certain fears we may open a door for that specific thing to actually happen. For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me. Job 3:25 NKJV Second, it stops our usefulness. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours. Matthew 25:25 NKJV. Here the servant was fearful and simply did nothing because of fear. As the parable goes, he could have invested it or put it in the bank to earn interest, but instead, because of fear he chose to do nothing. Also in the time of Nehemiah, the enemies of Israel knew fear would stop forward movement on the rebuilding of Jerusalem and attempted to use it to stop the work. For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done. Nehemiah 6:9 NKJV. Fear was used as a weapon by the enemies. Fear can be paralyzing. Third, in Proverbs 12:25, we are told that anxiety (another word for fear) causes depression, Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Depression will also diminish our usefulness by slowing us down, sapping our energy and causing health problems. Men s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:26 NKJV. This verse suggests fear can actually stop the heart. Some real-life cases seem to prove that point true. Additionally, in our world today there are many illnesses linked to anxiety such as autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, and even just simply being more susceptible to everyday colds or flus. Fourth, fear separates us from God. Go back the Garden of Eden for a moment again. Adam said he was afraid, so he hid from God. When we are fearful, we lack faith. When we lack faith, our relationship with God is strained and we become separated. This, in my opinion, is the worst consequence of fear and the most damaging The consequences of fear or worry are many. God wants to protect us from these things and so He tells us, Do not fear. W o r r y, P a g e 3 13

4 Have you ever had fear about what others might think? Guess what! That is addressed in the Bible too, and is the topic for next week. Part 3: What will they think of me? July 18, 2017 Have you ever asked yourself, What will they think of me? or Will that make them do? or I m afraid he/she will Have you ever made a decision based on fear you had of people? When I was working in a very abusive environment I was afraid of everyone working there. None of them could be trusted. Any word I said or move I made could bring disaster at any moment. Threats of job loss were constant. Yet was I to be afraid? NO! Over and over throughout the Bible we are told not to fear people not even our enemies: Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 1:8 NKJV Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Matthew 10:26 NKJV So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6 NKJV But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 1 Peter 3:14 NKJV To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear. Luke 1:74 KNJV I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Psalms 3:6 NKJV See also Deut. 20:3, 2 Kings 19:6, Ps. 49:16, Is. 51:7, Matthew 10:28, and more. So name a person you are afraid of. Your boss? Your ex? A relative? Your neighbor? An authority in your life? Are you supposed to be afraid of them? Why should we not fear people? Because God has our backs! He says He will deliver us. He will bless us. He will reveal the secrets. There is nothing to be afraid of. He is there for you. He will never leave you or forsake you. W o r r y, P a g e 4 13

5 Believe me, as someone who has struggled with anxiety my whole life, I get that it is tough not to be afraid. However, when you really think about it, what is there to be afraid of? God has my back! Who better? Give your fears to God. *If you are in physical danger, make sure you get to safety and reach out for help. God does not expect us to stay in a situation where we are being mistreated in any way. He created us to live, not be abused. Part 4: No Fear in Battle July 27, 2017 Fear during a war would seem logical and reasonable. However, once again over and over, God tells us we are not to fear. And he said, Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God s. 2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV (See also Joshua 10:3, Deuteronomy 20:1, Deuteronomy 3:2, Numbers 21:34, and many more) Only a few of us in the general population of the United States are ever going to see military combat. However, while we may not be fighting in hand to hand combat with physical visible enemies, we are in a war a spiritual war. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV. Additionally, we may be in tangible battles: legal, illness, rights violations, bad habits, family difficulties, sin, etc. Whatever type of conflict it is, we are not to have fear. Why should we not fear in these fear-producing situations? Because the battle is not ours. No matter what kind of battle it is, the battle is God s. You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22 NKJV. (See also 2 Chronicles 20:15, Exodus 14:13, Deuteronomy 1:29-30, 2 Kings 6:16). So, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Have no fear. W o r r y, P a g e 5 13

6 Part 5: When Bad Things Happen August 1, 2017 When bad things happen, it is very easy for me to slip into panic mode. I used to immediately lose sight of God and any trust in him and just see the seemingly insurmountable problem before me. It would overwhelm me and I would panic. This has happened so many times and after all was said and done I would be embarrassed that I panicked and did not trust God. I am less easily panicked these days, but it still can be difficult when unexpected events occur. Yet the Bible tells us bad times will come and we should continue trusting God in them: You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. Psalms 91:5-6 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies. Psalm 112:7-8 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:6 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Ps. 46:2 It is comforting to know God knows about the bad things that will happen to us and already has a plan. We just need to trust Him. Often when I am worried I have difficulty sleeping. According to the following verse even in the bad times we can trust so much that we will be able to sleep well through it all. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:24-26 On Bible story which illustrates this well is found in Acts 12. Peter was in prison awaiting a trial that would surely end with his execution. Life really cannot get much worse than that. If there was a time to W o r r y, P a g e 6 13

7 be fearful, I think this probably qualifies by human standards. Yet in verse seven the angel who comes to let Peter out of prison has to strike him to wake him up so they can leave. Peter was sleeping so hard the angel could not just call his name or gently pat him on the shoulder. The angel had to strike him! That is a deep sleep! It appears to me Peter was not fearful. He had already known and seen others executed. He was under no delusions about where this was leading, but he slept. Even so, he was placing his trust in God and sleeping. That is pure faith. WOW! I find this concept absolutely mind-blowing! How about you? Part 6: Like an Infection August 1, 2017 Ever been around someone who was down and depressed and after listening to them talk about their troubles and ailments for a while you were down too? Any attitude or emotion can be contagious. You can be infected with another s happiness, sadness, fear, anger, joy, etc. This is likely a portion of the reason God told Gideon in Judges 7:3 to tell those who were fearful to go home. Giving too much voice to your fears can cause you and others around you to be fearful just like spending time with someone who shares their many fears and lack of trust in God can cause you to be fearful. Soon we will talk about what to do instead of giving voice to your fears. I will also have some practical suggestions for applying all this knowledge to real life. Part 7: God Hears and is There August 8, 2017 Many times, I believe my fear is because ultimately, I am not convinced God is hearing me. This is a common feeling, but God does hear us. You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, Do not fear! Lamentations W o r r y, P a g e 7 13

8 3:57 NKJV. We can be assured that God does hear our cries. (See also Genesis 21:17 and 26:24) Not only does he hear our cries but He promises to be present always. 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 NKJV Multiple times we are told God is with us see below for some examples: And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham s sake. Genesis 26:24 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 And David said to his son Solomon, Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God my God will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord 1 Chronicles 28:20 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalms 118:4 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not, I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west Isaiah 43:5 But He said to them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26 Do I need to fear if God is with me? Meditate on these verses. Are you ever afraid because you do not believe God is listening? Do you have a valid reason to think He is not after reading these verses? Sometimes I feel like all these verses are just words. How do I make this meaningful in my life? We will talk about practical ways to apply this knowledge in an upcoming segment soon. Have you ever felt you were too unimportant for God to care about? Next week we will look at how this belief can cause us worry and how much worth God sees in us. W o r r y, P a g e 8 13

9 Part 8: My Value August 15, 2017 Being rejected in marriage, growing up with a sibling who always had everyone s attention, not being the most coordinated kid on the basketball team These things really led to me feeling like I had no value. If I had no value to people who were here and I was trying my hardest to help or do something for, how could I possibly have value to God? This has been a real struggle for me. In the past, I have had times when I ultimately did not trust simply because I did not feel I was valuable or that God would care. Yet He sent His son to die in my place so I could have eternal life. (John 3:16) That alone is proof I have value. However, in addition to this statement of extreme love, here are a couple others made by Jesus Himself about our value to the Father and not having worry or fear: Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 W o r r y, P a g e 9 13

10 Then He said to His disciples, Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:22-34 Are you reading this thinking, This is all a bunch of nice platitudes, nice words, words I ve memorized in Sabbath School? What difference does this make to me? Do you believe in God? Do you believe He gave us messages in the Bible? Do you believe the above texts are true? Yes? Then start acting like you believe. Do not allow yourself to doubt God s love for you. For me I have discovered that almost all of my anxiety, worry, and fear are a direct result of the false belief that God does not love me. As I have chosen to take God at His word and believe, I have found most of my worries melt away. When fear starts to creep in, I am more easily able to remind myself now that I do have value and God has promised to take care of me. Next week will begin to look at actions we can take to combat worry. (This is the stuff I like!) Part 9: Antidotes to Fear August 22, 2017 In our previous discussions we have seen how fear can affect our minds and bodies like a poison. Just like many chemical poisons, there is an antidote to fear. Actually, I found six mentioned specifically in the Bible. God never tells us to do anything without giving us the means to do it. W o r r y, P a g e 10 13

11 The first is trust. Sounds simple. Fear, worry, anxiety. At the core of these emotions is a lack of trust in God. Therefore, it would make sense that to have trust would be the opposite and an antidote. Take a look at these verses: Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalms 56:11 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid; only believe. Mark 5:36 These also seem to suggest trust and believing are choices. It is not a feeling. Yet we can ask God for help this. He never asks us to do something without making it possible. The second antidote is rejoicing! Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the Lord has done marvelous things! Joel 2:21 It is difficult to be filled with fear when one is rejoicing. The third is love. The kind of love that comes from God perfect love. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 Love and fear cannot coexist. The fourth is looking to how God has led in the past. Much like the old song, Count Your blessings. Look to the past and see how God has led you through other difficulties you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt Deuteronomy 7:18 Fifth is song. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 Fear diminishes when one is singing or listening to uplifting music. Taking the actual action of singing engages one s mind more than simply listening and may be more effective. Many times, when I have been afraid, I sing. It amazes me how this can diminish my fear. Sixth and last is seeking God. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 He can and will help us with our fears. Much of my life I have not known how to give God my fears to handle. Do you ever wonder how to do that? We will be talking about this in our last part of this series. W o r r y, P a g e 11 13

12 With these tools and God at our side, we are armed to fight the battle and conquer fear, worry or anxiety completely! Part 10: God is God September 19, 2017 In this in-depth study we have looked at many reasons not to fear and we have looked at six antidotes to fear. Part of not having fear is believing that God is God. Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one. (Isaiah 44:8) After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward. Genesis 15:1 Do you believe that God is God? That He is in control? Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 Part 11: Be Strong and Courageous September 19, 2017 When my children were small and learning to do new things often they were afraid. Walking. Jumping into the pool. All these things were difficult and scary at times. As a parent what do we do when our children cannot do something on their own? Many times in the Bible God asked people to take some action in the face of much fear and what seemed an impossible situation. So He said, I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. Genesis 46:3 W o r r y, P a g e 12 13

13 Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21 And David said to his son Solomon, Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God my God will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 28:20 And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, Go down with him; do not be afraid of him. So he arose and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:15 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:19 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent Acts 18:9 It seems to me over and over that God seems to be telling me the same type of thing: Do what I tell you to do, don t ask questions, go forward in faith! I have a plan. Just trust me. Now I m sorry, but for most of us, that is a pretty scary concept! I want to know what the plan is before I just jump into the deep end. It takes a special high level no fear attitude to just do it. But with God all things are possible, right? Back to my question. As a parent what do we do when our children cannot do something on their own? We help them. Take their hand. We do not expect them to independently take the very first step they have ever taken. God is not asking us to do that either. He wants to hold our hand while we take the step of trusting Him. Isn t this comforting? We do not have to do it alone! W o r r y, P a g e 13 13