Take Courage

The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected. (Prov. 29:25)

Several years out of college, I felt called to join an organization that helped children in the metro area, and I moved into a low-income apartment complex. It didn’t take long, however, for my fears to begin to cause me to doubt God’s calling. I was fearful about raising enough money to live on. I was also fearful about my safety in a crime-ridden neighborhood where alcoholism, drugs, prostitution, and violence were prevalent. I began having panic attacks and didn’t last more than a year there.

Though many might empathize with my fear in that situation, I’ve found that I continue to struggle with anxiety even as a stay-at-home mom in an upscale neighborhood. Many of my current worries center around fearing man, placing too much importance on what others think of me.

Lately, however, I have determined to put off fear and put on faith, getting serious and intentional in praying about my fear and learning what God says about it. Here’s what I’m learning:

The Bible addresses fear more than 260 times, and God encourages His people not to fear. He warns us to remember what He has done for us so we’ll be faithful. Fear is often at the root of sin. We choose what is not pleasing to God, particularly when we’re afraid of what others might think of us. Many people get into debt trying to keep up with others’ lifestyles.

Envision how different your life might be if you made all of your decisions free from worry, if you didn’t care what others thought, and if you didn’t play the “what-if” game. If you want victory over fear, begin memorizing, meditating on, and speaking aloud Scriptures about faith as you take every fearful thought captive and let God transform you.