Fear Not
In our lives, we have many opportunities to disqualify the statement fear not. Maybe you have had the opportunity like I have to be afraid because the situation you are facing is so big it begins to weaken your faith and trust in God. This is because we cannot see a positive outcome to our problem.
Fear is a natural human emotion which warns us of the existence of danger, threat, and/or harm in our immediate future or vicinity. When things in our life have the potential to go wrong, our first response is to be afraid of the possible outcome. Yet God comforts us with words like “Be Not Afraid or “Fear Not” in the King James Bible (1769/2017). In fact these words are used 103 times in the King James Bible (1769/2017). These words bring us assurance and comfort. He is with us in all situations.
In the King James Bible (1769/2017), we find a situation in 2 Chronicles 20 with King Jehoshaphat which caused him to be afraid. 2 Chronicles 20:1 says, “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle” (King James Bible, 1769/2017).
Verse three in Chronicles 20 tells us of two responses Jehoshaphat had to his situation (a) Jehoshaphat feared and (b) he set himself to seek the Lord.
We see Jehoshaphat’s natural emotions he faced when looking at unsurmountable odds and utter defeat. He became afraid. We also see his action to address his fear. Verse three in Chronicles 20 tells us he set himself to seek the Lord (King James Bible, 1769/2017). The word “set” means to put or bring into a specified state. Jehoshaphat combated his fear by refocusing his attention to seeking the Lord.
In Chronicles 20:12, Jehoshaphat makes this bold statement “for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (King James Bible, 1769/2017). The key point Jehoshaphat wanted to make is that in our own resources, we do not have the available manpower to win the battle. On top of that, we do not know what to do. Have you ever been in that situation and said I don’t have the resources to win this battle? I know I have!
Jehoshaphat took his fear and turned it into faith by doing two things. The first thing he did was to remind God of His promises. The second thing he did was to wait on the Lord.
In 2 Chronicles 20: 6-19, Jehoshaphat takes time to focus his attention on the Lord and remind Him of His promises stating in verse 9 “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.” (King James Bible, 1769/2017)
Just like Jehoshaphat when we cry out, God hears us and sends help in our time of need. Notice what the Lord said in 2 Chronicles 20:17 to Jehoshaphat “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (King James Bible, 1769/2017)
I encourage you when fear comes to your door remember the battle is not your battle, but it is the Lord’s. Continue to encourage yourself in the promises of God. This will build your faith. Magnify God through praise and worship. Why do we do that? We magnify God because whatever we magnify will get bigger. Sometimes we need to ensure God is bigger than the problem in our mind. Take the time to get the necessary direction and assurance you need to move forward.
These steps will help you to move from fear to faith. The Lord would not tell us to fear not if it were not possible. So, if you are facing a challenge in life, you’re not alone. God is with you just ask for His help.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James BIble Online. https://www.biblegateway.com/ (Original work published 1769)