As I looked around school today, the little ones having to cover up their faces with masks… These precious faces made in the image of God, the cog wheels in my mind start spinning. How did we get here? Which one of the above words in this title is responsible?

Fear I have heard it said is False Evidence Appearing Real. Could it be that simple? Simple perhaps but definitely not easy. What do we as people fear, fear in terms of what we worry about, stay up late at night about? I think of myself…what are the concerns I may have on any given day? Health issues, finances, the well-being of my family, the future?

Faith, the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. How does faith vs. fear play out in our daily lives?

1 John 4:18 states: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:16 states: God is love!

John 3:16 states: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians 4:6-7 states: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:8 states: Keep this Book of the Law (God’s Word) always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

1 Timothy 1:7 states: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

So when fear arises amid any of the given challenges I choose to scan my spirit and I start proclaiming these verses and others out loud! I choose to remember what I know about my God. In other words, I choose faith (trusting God) above all else, even if my natural eyes cannot yet see the results I pray for… I remember how He has delivered me from so many challenges before and He will do it again because God is faithful.

Jeremiah 29:11 states: For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 Corinthians 5:7 states: For we walk by faith not by sight.

This is how I soothe my soul when fear comes. I stand on the authority of God’s Word and I choose to take it at face value. I know He is love and fear is not how God deals with His children. However the Bible does say to fear God, but fearing God is submitting to Him because He is worthy and it is revering Him for who He is. So I have a choice to make moment by moment each day. I can choose to fear God in awe of His goodness, mercy and grace and thereby walk in faith believing His Word and trusting His good plans for me and my loved ones….or I can be encumbered by worldly fear that comes from God’s adversary and is for the sole purpose of destroying us. How will you decide to walk into the future? When peace is present, we are walking in the fear of the LORD, when peace is absent we are walking in a destructive fear. Which option is better?

I pray that God gives us the discernment to know the difference and to choose wisely.

Till next time 🙂