We’re all aware that fear produces anxiety, but it also has far-reaching effects. Here are some ways apprehension creates chaos in our life and impacts those around us.
Fear stifles thoughts and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.
Fear can be a roadblock to God’s plans for His children. When we’re dominated by negative emotions, we cannot achieve the goals He has in mind for us. A lack of self-confidence stymies our belief in what the Lord can do with our lives.
Fear can lead to destructive habits. To numb the pain of overbearing distress and foreboding, some turn to things like drugs and alcohol for artificial relief.
Fear steals peace and contentment. When we’re regularly afraid, our life becomes centered on pessimism and gloom.
Fear creates doubt. God promises an abundant life, but if we surrender instead to the chains of fear, we most likely won’t live in the abundance He offers.
No matter what you are afraid of, here’s what you need to know: God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision. And remember, the Lord wants to meet all of your needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the splendor of lilies. How much more, then, will He care for you and me, who are made in His image? Our only concern is to obey the heavenly Father and leave all the consequences to Him.
The scene of the cross is a paradox. It demonstrates the power of God in what appears to be the weakest moment of His Son’s life. With hands and feet nailed to rough wood, Jesus looked totally helpless. Adding to that impression was the fact that He remained there while the crowd jeered, “If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matthew 27:40).
Strength is not always revealed in a dramatic display; at times, it’s demonstrated in determined endurance. What power held Jesus on that cross, when with one spoken word He could have been free? It was divine love that kept Him there. With mankind’s eternal destiny at stake, Christ hung on the cross until our salvation was secured.
But the power of the cross didn’t end when Jesus finally finished His suffering, gave up His spirit, and died. His death thrust open the door of salvation to all people—those who walk through it by faith are forgiven for every sin and ensured a place in heaven.
Yet even after salvation, the power of the cross continues in believers’ lives. Millions of people have been transformed as a result of the Savior’s victory over sin and death. He sets us free from sinful habits and addictions, empowering us to live victoriously in His righteousness.
Have you let the cross do its work in your life? The Lord does not force its benefits on anyone. Rather, He offers them freely to all who will believe in Him and walk in His ways. With each step of faith that we take, the mighty work of God in us increases.
Our culture is not one that teaches patience. Just watch the frustration of drivers behind a car that doesn’t start moving the instant the traffic light turns green. Because of a two-second delay, tempers flare and horns honk. Living in a fast-paced world has programmed us to expect everything immediately, and that includes answers to our prayers.
At times, I have been very impatient and frustrated with the Lord when He hasn’t operated according to my schedule. I’ve even tried to manipulate circumstances so I could present Him with the solution and ask for His blessing. But delayed timing from my perspective is perfect timing from His viewpoint. An omniscient God who created and rules over time can never be late.
Waiting on the Lord requires faith. Just because we can’t see what He is doing does not mean that He is inactive. Our heavenly Father works outside of our visible realm, arranging and orchestrating events to bring about His plan for our lives. His work is like a seed planted deep in a garden—we cannot see the underground process. But just as a budding plant eventually appears, we can trust that in time, the Lord’s ordained outcome will become evident.
The solution to whatever problem you are facing is in God’s hands. Steadfastly cling to the truth of His love for you, His knowledge of all things, and His power over every obstacle. Then you can confidently walk by faith rather than by sight, knowing that on God’s schedule, His good purposes will be fulfilled. In time, your eyes will see proof of His faithfulness.
Right timing is critical in a believer’s walk with the Lord. However, trusting His timing in important decisions, uncertain direction, or pressing needs is extremely difficult when everything within us cries, “Do something!” Because we want action, waiting for God seems so passive.
To wait for the Lord means to pause for instruction while remaining in the present circumstance. It is a purposeful, expectant focus on God—a choice to be actively still and quiet in our hearts, listening for His voice and watching for His intervention. The wait is not for events to work out as we want, but rather for God’s will to be done.
The Lord’s voice often comes to us through His Word which is the Creator’s instruction manual for our lives. There have been instances when a Bible passage jumped out at me while I was reading—the guidance I sought was right there, almost as if it had my name written on it. To hear from God in this way, quiet meditation is essential.
At times, God will change a situation to redirect us, or He will motivate another person to give advice and guidance. However, always remember that any voice offering us direction must align with the Lord’s will as revealed in His Word; otherwise, it is not from Him.
The first step in waiting for the Lord is submission to His choice of how and when He will act. What are you hoping God will do? Are you seeking Him, or are you seeking only the thing you want from Him? Because He alone knows what is best for you, let go and trust that His decision will be the best path.
How often do we evaluate ourselves on the basis of our feelings rather than what God says? The problem is, our feelings are always changing. From one moment to the next, we never know what circumstances will arise to test our faith.
Maybe today is “one of those days”—the car didn’t start, the boss has been breathing down your neck, the mortgage payment is due, and money is short. During such times, it can be difficult to think of yourself with “sober judgment” (Romans 12:3 NIV). But remember, Satan will do whatever he can to divert your attention from the Lord. When we direct our focus toward circumstances instead of the Word of God, we accept what the situation seems to indicate or what others say, instead of what the Lord tells us.
So what do the Scriptures say about us? Today’s passage calls believers “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, [and] . . . God’s own possession.” And our purpose is to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
How encouraging it is to know that we’ve been called into God’s “marvelous light.” Yet unless we have help, we are unable to escape the “darkness” of our circumstances. As believers, we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to overcome Satan’s manipulative tactics.
When circumstances seem unbearable, remember the Lord paid a price to purchase you (1 Corinthians 6:20). Wake up each morning with the knowledge that you are valuable to your Father. Trust in His Word, not your feelings, and allow the Holy Spirit to change your self-perception.
