Fear While Trusting God

Executive Pastor Pam Bird

Fear while trusting God.

Let’s read Exodus 14:10-14

Let's talk about Fear.  What is Fear?

When fear comes upon you, what happens? What does your body go through, your mind and your heart (physically and spiritually) goes through?

Fear is an unpleasant emotion induced by a threat perceived by living situations, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately a change in behavior, such as running away, hiding or freezing.

Fear may occur in response to a specific stimulus happening in the present, or to a future situation, which is perceived as risk to health or life, status, power, security, or in the case of human’s wealth or anything held valuable.

The FEAR RESPONSE arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or paralysis. In other words, when you're back is against the wall, you will do something in fear.

What happens to you when fear comes upon you? Fear can make you do things you normally don't do and even don't want to do.

What do you do when Fear arises in you?

Exodus 14:13-14 - Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of The Lord.

It's always going to be a struggle for us. Fear is a strong emotion, and we're all control freaks at heart. Jesus knows that. And because of that awful night in Gethsemane, He knows firsthand what fear is like. In spite of that, he can still tell us, “Don't be afraid.”
When we're trying to obey that command, willpower alone just doesn't cut it. We can try to squelch our fearful thoughts, but they just keep popping up, like a ball held under water. Two things are necessary.

First, we have to acknowledge that fear is too strong for us, so only God can handle it. We have to turn our fears over to him, remembering that he is all-power, all-knowing, and always in control.

Second, we have to replace a bad habit—fear thoughts—with a good habit, namely prayer and confidence in God. We may be able to switch thoughts with lightning speed, but we can't think of two things at once. If we're praying and thanking God for his help, we can't be thinking about fear at the same time.

Fear is a lifelong battle, but God is our lifelong Protector. He promised to never abandon or forsake us. When we are secure in his love and salvation, nothing can snatch us from him, not even death. By holding tightly to God, no matter what, we will make it through, in spite of our fear.

Now we know what fear makes us do. Now we are going to learn or attempt not to fear.

Be strong and of good courage. Speak it and it is so!!!! No longer pray to help us, but thank him for it's already done.

How are we going to be strong? Now we are going to put on our spiritual boxing gloves.

So here are some fears that God can deliver us from:

Man Fear - Genesis 15:1 & Hebrews 13:6
Future - Genesis 46:3
Danger - Exodus 14:13
Idol god - Judges 6:10
Dreams - Job 4:14-16
Evil - Psalms 23:4
War - Psalms 27:3
Nothing - imaginative fear - Psalms 53:5
Enemies - Psalms 118:6
Punishment - Proverbs 1:26-27
Darkness - Song of Solomon 3:8
Ghosts - Matthew 14:26
Spirit of fear - 2 Timothy 1:6-7

So when fear comes upon you, these scriptures will be YOUR DEFENSE!