Your steadfast love O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds. (Psalm 36:5 ESV)
Series: The Breadcrumb Trail
Fear is a little word that packs a big punch! It can leave us paralyzed and traumatized. Our response to fear can impact our decisions, relationships, and lifestyle. I’m not talking about the dread I experienced after being coerced into riding a rollercoaster or when I saw a gigantic snake slithering right in front of me! There was, albeit short term, genuine fear in those moments. But when faced with an unexpected medical diagnosis or a tough decision, fear can cripple us and steal our peace. I’ve experienced this, and the Lord has always faithfully brought me through.
In my mid-twenties, married with a 2-year-old boy, my husband and I hoped to expand our family. My first pregnancy was trouble-free, so I expected nothing different for future ones. I was so wrong.
Early in our second pregnancy, we experienced a miscarriage. Devastation and despair consumed me. What if it happened again? And then it did. We faced hard decisions and uncertainty of what our future held. Could I handle another loss? What if I could never have another child?
Then came the diagnosis—endometriosis. Surgery, medications, shots, and the fear that came along with them followed. I was young in my faith when these things took place. Even though I knew it was all in the Lord’s hands, fear overtook me at times. I remember the day when I fully surrendered it all to the Lord and felt a peace that I had yet experienced. John 14:27 (ESV) reminds us:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
When I received the news I had conceived again, I have to admit a bit of anxiety was still there. But God gave me peace in knowing whatever happened, He would be right there with me. I had a successful pregnancy, and we were blessed with a healthy baby girl. I look back now at those years and remember how the Lord was with me through every step and I praise Him for His faithfulness!
Why is fear talked about so much in the Bible? Is it because the Lord knows our tendency to place fear over faith? T-shirts and coffee mugs with the “Faith over Fear” logo are easy to find. But when facing fear, it’s not so easy to do! How do we rise above our fear and put our trust in the One who has all the answers?
We must remember His sovereignty, His promises, and His faithfulness from the past to give us hope and courage for the future. Let’s look at a couple of examples from scripture.
Jacob feared his brother Esau, and with good reason. First, he persuaded Esau to sell his birthright for a cup of stew. Then, he deceitfully received Esau’s blessing from their father. Greatly afraid and distressed, Jacob fled. Years later, Jacob and Esau’s path was about to intersect again. In desperation, Jacob cried out to the Lord.
“Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” (Genesis 32:11-12 ESV)
We read in Jacob’s plea for help that he remembered the Lord’s promise to him and His faithfulness to fulfill it.
Sometimes the fear of failure can hinder us from fulfilling God’s purpose. When the odds seem against us, it’s hard to take courage. Let’s reflect on the battle of David and Goliath. David had every reason to fear. Goliath was about 9 feet tall and well prepared for battle with much armor and weapons. David, a youth, tended sheep and was no match for Goliath by man’s standard. But David’s desire to serve the Lord and his remembrance of the Lord’s provision was greater than his fear.
“And David said, ‘The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the LORD be with you!’” (1 Samuel 17:37 ESV)
Just as Jacob and David relied upon the Lord, let’s also go confidently in His name! May we wear our “Faith over Fear” t-shirts proudly and honestly, remembering the faithfulness of the Lord—yesterday, today, and forever!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Linda
Guest Writer
Scripture References: Psalm 36:5; John 14:27; Genesis 25, 32:11-12; 1 Samuel 17:37
One comment on “When Fear Meets Faith”
Linda, thank you for sharing such a tender journey that you went through. “Faith over fear” T-shirts sounds great!! Overcoming our fear with faith means a whole lot to those who have gone through journeys like you did. To be able to encourage others in this way is a blessing that will go beyond today! Thank you!!