FEAR AND ANXIETY
What is it?
Fear and anxiety appear to be one of the greatest or formidable weapons of the enemy against Christians. Fear and anxiety permeate every facet of life, including marriage, home, business, finance, health, freedom, physical security, spiritual well being, among others. Fear and anxiety erode the very foundation of our faith and render us helpless in times of adversity or turbulence or tumult of life. Fear and anxiety question our faith in Jesus Christ and thereby make us question the Lord’s capacity in challenging situations or times.
Who is tested?
Jesus Christ never said there will be no trials or temptations, adversities or challenges, setbacks or failures. Jesus Christ endured the same and expects us to do likewise. Jesus Christ in admonishing his disciples said in Matthew 10:38, “he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” The cross is symbolic of the test of fear and anxiety which we must overcome.
The Apostle Paul was also tested yet he writes in Romans 8:35; “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:38 reads; “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This love is reciprocal from us to him and from him to us.”
What tools we need
We need faith in Christ Jesus to overcome fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety can lead us to embrace sin. To the extent that Galatians 4:7 says, “through God, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir”, you have no reason to entertain fear or anxiety whilst Jesus walks with you.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “and without faith it is impossible to please God.” We displease God when we cave in to fear and anxiety. Hope in Christ Jesus should rather make us bold as recorded in 2 Corinthians 3:12. Most times, the basis of our fear or anxiety may not be real but imaginary.
Prayer
Increase our faith in you Lord Jesus to banish all fears and doubts that confront us as your children for we are weak and feeble. Let your mercy locate us, in your Holy name we pray. Lord Jesus, by your word in Matthew Chapter 6, please help us not to be anxious about tomorrow, for your name’s sake. AMEN!!!
