Looking at fear and faith… I can’t think of any two forces that are such opposites. If one exists, then the other can’t. If you don’t want one to ‘rule’ your life then you have no alternative but to root out the other. In this case, the only antidote to fear is faith. This also leads us to an opportunity to make a stand For, not just Against.
Assuming that faith is the preferred mindset, do you know what stops you from walking in faith? What binds you to negative ‘what ifs’? Do you choose to only see the negative? That’s as self-defeating as only seeing the positive. Both exist, you need to be aware of both so that you can effectively deal with the fear factor and enhance the faith.
“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.” (1John 4:18)
I suspect it can be argued that none of us live as one who is perfected in love. True. But, it can become a mindset that defines our actions. How? It goes on to say in v. 19 – “We love because He first loved us…” Look at the One who provides the model – how did He display love?
I’ve always believed that if we are directed to do or think or be (fill in the blank) then we can. Our Father would never ask or require us to do something we can’t. However, the proof is in OUR doing. Will we even attempt to walk in faith, to overcome fear? Will we become a model for others even knowing that we will fail at times. Perhaps one of the greatest learning will be what we do when we don’t accomplish our goal… how we pick ourselves up and begin again.
