The Fear Emotion (Counseling Chap 8)

 Fear is another of those major emotions that seeks to eat away at our peace of mind and our trust in Jesus.  Like anger, there can be good and bad fear.  When irrational fear threatens to chain us up, know that here too, we can be more than conquerors to overcome victoriously.  There is hope!

Healthy fear leads us to safety, like locking your doors at night.  It keeps us from harm.  Walking in the fear of God is the safe fear to have.  It will keep us close to Him and build trust in Him.  This is like a young child sticking close to its mother in a thunder storm.

Harold J. Sala reminds us in his book Counseling Friends in Need, that

 "... safety is not 'the absence of fear" but "the promise of the Lord's protection.  [We] can live above fear.  Fear will no longer destroy [our] peace of mind."

This leads us to mention destructive fear.  It can start out as a real legitimate fear such as a spouses' passing leaving the other one alone to cope with raising children in a foreign land.  Or, of having had a car accident so you are paralysed at home, never daring to go out.  The more you think of these things, the more it robs a person's peace of mind.

Paul told Timothy,

" ... for God gave us a Spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7).

The follower of Jesus Christ has a greater Helper, He's called the Holy Spirit.  One of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit is 'peace'.  We have the power  in Christ through the Holy Spirit's indwelling, to develop greater peace, to relinquish our unhealthy fears, and begin to trust Christ.  In turn, we can have victory over these fears.

After discovering the source of our fears we can make small steps, a bit at a time, and with the help of a trusted friend who's dedicated to walking with you over the major fear bump in the road.  Seek help.

Each time we feel another surge of fear we can also be reminded that the Lord Himself walks with us.  Read, write out, memorize and quote Psalm 23:4, regularly.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; ... they comfort me." (ESV).

You can emphasize, "I will fear no evil".  Why?  Because the Lord promises to be with you.  A friend can't always be with  you 24/7 but the Lord can.

Abba Father, thank You for always being with me even in those 'shadow of death' times of controlling fear.  I wasn't to be able to boldly declare, "I will fear no evil".  And  "I trust in You."  I seek Your help and hand.  Help me, Lord!  Help me towards victory in Christ to overcome  my fear of _________.  In Jesus' name I beseech You.  Amen.

                                                     ~ ERC  March 2025 ~

Based on 2 Timothy 1:7 and Psalm 23:4 ESV.  Also Counseling Friends In Need by Harold J. Sala.  Chapter 8 - Using the Bible to Counsel Emotional Problems pages 163-166.

Sing, Overcomer along with Mandisa.

Note:  Mandisa, the singer/songwriter for Overcomer knows first hand about this sort of thing.  Find her autobiography and read how she overcame.

Here's a link  to a review about Mandisa's book, Out of the Dark.