Fear & Worry

This post falls under the category of Philippians 3:1: “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, andit is a safeguard for you.”

Fear and worry have a few common characteristics.

·      They are opposites of trust in God.

·      They are present feelings based upon futureunknown events.

·      They are based on lies from the father of lies.

·      They are common because worry is a form of fear.

·      Both fear and worry do not come from God.

·      They are both sins against God.

Here are a few related Scriptures:

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘Whatshall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all thesethings, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first hiskingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you aswell. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry aboutitself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31-34).

This is a favorite promise of Bessie and me.

There are two reasons not to worry.

1.    This is what the pagans do. Do we want toimitate pagans?

2.    The Lord knows we need food and clothing. Hecreated us with a stomach and without fur. He will provide the food andclothing.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say itagain: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, butin every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present yourrequests to God. And the peace of God, which transcendsall understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”(Phil. 4:4-7).

“For God did not give us a spirit oftimidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7).

“Cast all your anxiety on him because hecares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships