When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4 NIV)
Previously, we have thought on the believer’s struggle with fear. We have seen that fear is an emotion given by God. Sadly, sin twists what is a good gift for our preservation into a sinful fear that disrupts our fellowship with God and people. We also saw that we need to replace fear with faith in the living God. Next, let’s think of two other practical steps to take when we struggle with fear.
Resolve not to fear. To have a proper resolution requires a sound, practical theology. Who is this one I should trust in when I am afraid? I should trust in God. The resting place of faith is in God himself. The Christian does not look for a favorable turn in events, the successful application of a method, or an empty hope that the problem will just go away. No, he “gets God involved in his problem.” He says to the Lord, “Things look rather dismal here, Lord, but I know that you are able.”
The content of faith conforms to God’s revelation of himself in his word. We do not expect God to act contrary to himself or his ways, but we do look with certainty for the help that he has promised in the Holy Scriptures. This means that you and I must know what God has promised. We learn what God has promised by carefully reading and studying his word. God may graciously carry the young saint through situations, when the believer has not had opportunity to learn God’s promises and ways. But do not assume that he will do the same for those who ought to have attained some degree of spiritual maturity.
A proper resolution also requires self-control, which is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). Faith is not an exercise in passivity or inactivity. Faith is a conscious dependence to trust God and to do what he wants you to do. Consider Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-9, 11, 17-18). He believed God and did what God told him to do.
This means that you must “take charge” of yourself. You tell yourself, “There is more in this situation than my physical senses can perceive. God is with me, and he is holy, sovereign, good and wise. Therefore, I choose to depend on him whatever may happen.” George Mueller many times prayed to the Lord for food for his orphanage. He depended upon God to meet great needs.
Reevaluate your situation. Having faith in God does not require us to close our eyes or put our head in the sand. Believers are not little children who put their hands over their eyes and boldly proclaim to trouble, “You can’t see me!” Sight operates within the limits of this space/time material world. The rebel sinner refuses to see anything beyond what his or her senses can perceive. The unbeliever says to the believer, “Why pray? Why hope in God?”
Faith sees everything that sight does, but it also considers what is spiritual and eternal. The believer replies to the unbeliever, “You may twist my words, you may plot and conspire, and you may watch my steps, eager to take my life. But God is on my side and you have the greater problem.”
Having faith in God does require us to wait on God for his time of deliverance. Faith will calmly watch the problem worsen, because it knows that God will act. Think of Gideon trial as Israel’s leader. He watched his army shrink from 32,000 to 10,000 to 300, and then those 300 were told to prepare for battle with trumpets and torches. The public opinion polls probably said that Gideon and his army were going to get slaughtered, but they were wrong. But true faith is then at the place where the believer can glorify God. Abraham did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do (Romans 4:19-21 CSB).
As believers, we will come into situations of fear, as David did. Sometimes it will be due to our own mistakes and sins, like happened to David. But regardless of how we arrive at a fear-inducing situation, we must be ready to think and to act Biblically. That means that you must replace fear with faith, resolve not to fear, and then reevaluate your situation to give glory to God. In the same way, we must be gracious and considerate (Galatians 6:1) when we see other believers overcome by fear. We ought to help them in their struggle of faith, and not add wounds to their consciences. A bold faith should not be brusque or harsh with others. We can encourage others kindly and compassionately. May we learn to help others with the comfort that we have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Grace and peace, David