God takes care of the birds and will take care of us too. Matt: 6:26
We live in tough times. We hear it every day on the news. Our future looks bleak, at least that is what they’d like us to think.
As Christians how should we respond? Should we be fearful and full of anxiety?
“Fear is a more dangerous enemy than those your fear.” Thomas Watson – Puritan author and pastor.
Isn’t that an interesting quote? Do you realize many people in the Bible struggled with fear and doubt? Fear is nothing new!
Just to name a few:
Adam and Eve; they disobeyed God and became fearful and hid from Him.
Abraham; he had a fear of danger, so he lied two times about Sarah being his wife in order to escape danger.
Sarah had the fear of doubt. She didn’t believe God that she would have a child so she got Abraham to take her handmaid to provide the child. Ishmael was the result, and these two tribes still fight today.
Moses had the fear of not being good enough. God called Him, but he made excuses and tried to get out of it.
Peter had the fear of man. Because of that he denied that he knew Jesus three times.
Sometimes our fear can cause sin. Such was the case of Abraham. He feared danger so he lied which was a sin.
Sometimes our sin can cause fear. Such was the case of Adam and Eve. They sinned first when they disobeyed God and that sin resulted in fear.
In our day it is still the same. There are sins that can result in fear, such as adultery, lying, thief, breaking the law, anxiety and worry.
Then there are fears that can cause sin such as fear of public speaking, which is a fear of people, (you back out of doing something God wanted you to do,) fear of what people might think can cause you to lie or cover up something.
Have you ever wondered how the people from the time of creation until now, when we have psychology and special medications, coped with their fears and anxieties? I have.
Fear itself is nothing new we’ve seen that. What is new is the way we approach it today.
Psychology came along and hijacked God. The early fathers of psychology were not Christians and they had a secular, humanistic world view. They believed that all of man’s fears and anxiety came from how a person was raised, their environment, circumstances, and negative thinking. They came up with a new kind of “medicine,” called psychology.
When you had emotional problems you would be sent to a psychiatrist, who is a physician but a specialist in “mental illness.” He would diagnose you by using the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM) and come up with an “disorder” listed in there by number. This was a great idea because then the psychiatrists could charge your insurance company for the sessions they would set up for you. It truly benefited their wallets. Also, the drug companies played an important role as they came up with drugs specifically for these “mental illnesses and disorders.” These are called psychotropic drugs.
In 1966 there were 44 of these kinds of drugs, today there are 174. We spend 27 billion a year on these drugs. Did all of that fix the problems of fear, anxiety, and stress that people have?
I think not! Instead we became a nation of medicated people, going to psychologists regularly and not making any real progress.
Do you realize the answer lies in the Word of God? Yes, God made us and he knows all about us. Luke was a physician, so God does believe in doctors. When we are ill in our body we need to go to a physician. If we have a physical illness then it needs to be treated with medications. That is true.
But, when we have a problem in our heart, minds, soul, (our spiritual side) then we need to go to the Great Physician and get our help from Him. It seems the psychiatrist have come between the pastor and the hurting Christian. Today even pastors send their emotionally upset members to the psychologist for worldly therapy. Why, because they believe the lie that they themselves are not competent to help the people.
So, when we have problems with stress, anxiety, fear, and worry, we should run to the Bible and look for our help there.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2Ti 1:7 KJV
One important note: If you are presently taking medication for anxiety and panic attacks, please, do not stop them without first consulting with your physician who prescribed them and ask him or her how to get off them. It could be dangerous to try to quit them cold turkey.
Elyse Fitzpatrick, in her book, “Overcoming, Fear, Worry, and Anxiety,” has said the following:
“God loves to call the fearful heart to himself…Why does God delight in helping us to become trusting children, filled with peace and confidence, children who lean on His strength? Because when He changes hearts like ours into hearts like His, He receives praise and glory. When we discover that we’re able to walk peacefully through conditions that formerly terrified us, our hearts will overflow with gratitude and thanksgiving–and that brings joy to God. Only He can change hearts that are frequently overwhelmed by fear into hearts that are overshadowed by His power and bravery, and it’s His delight to do so.”
Do you need a heart change? If so, God is ready to help you. He wants to work in your life.
Do you fear God working in your life? Do you fear the possibility of getting better? Or, do you look forward to that day wholeheartedly? In other words, are you ready for change now?
My prayer for you is that you will turn to God for your healing. That you will trust that He is able to make you the person He created you to be. He loves you and has a purpose for your existence.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psa 62:8 NASB
What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have. He knows us through and through and can work with us to make us whole. You can be an overcomer!
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