The Voice of Fear

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, 

but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

Let's look again at the people in our Christmas story. Zechariah and Mary and Joseph - and later the Magi -  each received messages from Gabriel, some in visions and some in dreams.  And then there was the ragtag group of livestock caretakers who suddenly found themselves thrust into a new chapter of God’s cosmic story. Each human had to decide whether to doubt or believe the message.  Each human faced challenging circumstances and had to choose whether to despair or whether to hope in God. And each a decision of whether to stand in fear or faith.  

The Bible tells us that, “[T]here were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Where does that terror - that fear -  come from?  Where does any fear come from? Unless it is a healthy fear of our holy God, I believe that every other spirit of fear comes from the enemy of our souls.

Our world has lived through two years of fear-inducing circumstances.  Disease, economic struggles, rising crime, elections, division and strife, loss and grief - all these can easily pull us into fear.  “What if I get sick?  What if I lose my job?  What if, what if, what if?”  But God’s word is very clear.  2 Timothy 1:7 says that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 

 

You’ve probably heard that verse before - but hear the first part again - GOD has not given us a spirit of fear.  God is not the fear-giver.  God gives us his power in the Holy Spirit.  God gives us love.  God gives us a sound mind. God says, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Any “news” that induces fear is not of God. 

  

The things of our faithful God are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness - things that encourage us to become more holy like Jesus. When we listen to and focus on the voices of this world - the voices that tell us gloom and doom, despair and hopelessness - we are not hearing the voice of God.  God’s voice - God’s presence - God’s Spirit - always gives us hope.  When we listen to the voices of the world in news, media, social media, and other people we can lose our ability to hear God’s voice.  Ultimately, one of our main choices in life is whether we listen to the voice of the Lord or the voice of fear.  

 

Do we make decisions from a place of fear or from a place of faith in God’s love and protection and provisions?  Do we listen to the voices of the world and their ensuing chaos, or do we listen to the strong and mighty voice of our conquering King?  

 

When we ask Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truths and righteousness, he will lead us into God’s love, God’s peace and God’s joy - no matter what the world is telling us and no matter our circumstances.  

 

Today I will choose to tune out the voices of fear in my world and tune into the voice of my faithful God. Will you join me?

"At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past." 

(Galatians 5:1 TPT)

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. 

He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, 

and he will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13 NIV)