HOW TO HANDLE FEAR

ARE YOU EVER AFRAID?  Almost everyone knows fear.  David, the great, beloved king of Israel, was often afraid.  Psalm 11 opens with the question: 

To the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, Flee like a bird to your mountain? — Psalm 11:1

In our language today, we would say that David wanted to get away from it all.  He thought if he could hide in the hills, everything would be all right.

Fear is listed in the dictionary “as painful emotion marked by alarm, state or habit of fearing; anxious concern.”  Fear produces dread that often results in apprehension and anxiety, accompanied by loss of courage.  Spurgeon once said, “Many a saint goes through life fearful at times that he will drown in the waters of a cart rut.” 

Fear can cause one to be restless.  It can bring on sleepless nights.  It can weigh down upon the soul like a mountain to slow down spiritual progress, as well as hinder effective service.  It can rob one of spiritual joy and cause the heart to fear each new day. 

A nationally prominent psychologist, in his book of many fears, lists a total of 288. Of all the fears cited, six surface to the top: Poverty, criticism, rejection, illness, old age, death. He states that the fear of rejection is the greatest of all—stronger than the fear of death.  

Some fear high places, other’s fear low places.  Some fear open places; while others fear being squeezed in too close of a place or space.   Here are some other fears:

Mysophobia—the fear of dirt; Hydrophobia—the fear of water; Nyclophobia—the fear of darkness; Taxophobia—the fear of being buried alive; Xenophobia—the fear of strangers; Hemetophobia—the fear of blood; Necrophobia—the fear of the dead; Triskaidekaphobia—the fear of the number thirteen—Algophobia—the fear of pain; Photophobia—the fear of light.

Fear, like an enemy of despair, will sometimes come down upon you. When it does, remember that the spiritual giants of Bible times were afflicted by fear.

• Abraham, the great example of faith and called a friend of God, was instructed not to fear (Gen. 15:1). 

• Joshua, the great captain of God’s people, was told not to fear (Josh. 1:9). 

• Isaiah, the prophet, was assured of victory over fear in the comforting promise, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.— Isaiah 41:10 

The apostle Paul wrote of victory over fear, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).  The word for “fear” in that verse means timidity, cowardice.  The word for “sound mind” conveys the idea of self-control or good sense. As you draw upon the strength of the Lord, you will be able to serve your God boldly, courageously and unafraid.  Trust in the Lord’s power at all times. 

The apostle John tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment.  He who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:18). 

“Fear has torment” means that fear has the ability to punish us.  When we give ourselves to fear, it will bring punishment to our body and our mind.  However, perfect love will drive fear far from us. Perfect love is a mature love that has learned to trust in God at all times, in all circumstances.

Remember, the Lord is over us, in us, round about us, and underneath us to deliver us from fear.  Dr. Robert Ketchum once said in a sermon, “Don’t doubt in the dark what you know is true in the light.”

David’s solution to triumph over fear was to trust God in God.  Fears sees only the things that are nearby.  Faith takes in the larger distances, and puts trust in the Lord who is high above all (Ps. 11:4), 

Faith conquers fear as it claims at face value the promises of God. The Lord’s presence, power and protection are constantly upon the believer to give him deliverance from fear. David rejoiced in the Lord as he marched in triumph over fear, saying: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Ps. 27:1).