“He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust.”
Alexander MacLaren
We start down the slippery slope to fear by believing a lie about who God is. Fear leads to unbelief which causes us to distrust the Trustworthy One and steers us to sin. There are four steps to shutting the door to fear: 1. Identify the lie. 2. Remember who God is. 3. Replace the lie with the truth. 4. Remind yourself of the truth.
As soon as we feel the first hint of anxiety grabbing a hold of our hearts, we need to ask ourselves, “What am I believing about God and the current situation?” Pinpointing the lie where fear enters and begins to take root in our hearts, is the place where we unravel the lie and release the hold of fear. Many of us believe the same lie the Israelites believed: God is not for me, He’s against me and does not have my best interests at heart. We begin to loosen the grip of fear by identifying the lie.
Secondly, remember who God is. The presence of God was with the Israelites. He was their front guard and rear guard, guiding and protecting them. Recall who God has been in your life, how He’s rescued you in the past and therefore will do it again. Spending time in God’s Word and reading testimonies about His faithfulness help us remember the truth about who He is. God is good and loving, therefore His actions will display His love and goodness toward us. The enemy is relentless with his accusations and temptations to sin, but God’s love for us is even more relentless.
The third step to cure our fear is to replace the lie with the truth. God is for me and wants what is best for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Lastly, remind yourself of the truth. I do this frequently since the enemy hounds me with lies. Romans 10:17 says “faith comes from hearing.” I declare out loud God’s truth so what’s in my mind will drop down to my heart. The Lord has instructed me to memorize Psalm 91. He knows my vulnerability toward fear and my need to have His truth hidden in my heart.
In order to prevent fear from running its course, follow these four steps. Identify the lie, remember who God is, replace the lie with the truth, and remind yourself of the truth.
“The only known antidote to fear is faith.”
Woodrow Kroll
Relevant Reflection:
The next time fear knocks on the door of your heart, apply these four steps to alleviate fear.