For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Terrified screams pierced the midnight air. I flung the covers back, sprinting through the house to my son’s room where he lay, clutching the sheets to his chin, a wild look in his eyes. His eyes weren’t quite focused. He saw something I didn’t. I picked him up, holding him close but screams still filled the air. “What’s wrong,” I kept asking but he didn’t answer. Gently shaking him, I demanded, “What’s wrong? Wake up!” I tried to stuff down the fear rising in my own throat, knowing adding my fear to his night terror would only worsen things.
His eyes finally connected with mine but as his fear drained away, fat tears slid down his cheeks. In his preschool voice, he stammered about a scary man watching him and wanting to hurt him. Shock and compassion replaced my fear and I drew him even closer. I knew there was no one in our home to scare him, but it was never far from my mind that the enemy uses fear to paralyze us.
My son rested his head on my shoulder as I stroked his back until he finally fell back asleep. Whispered prayers covered him as I prayed God’s protection over him, pleading for the Lord to place a hedge of protection around my son, banning Satan and his pawns from our home and lives, especially from my son and his rest. Verses about fear flowed through my mind and out of my mouth, reminding myself and Him, as if He’d forgotten, that He didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Slowly, my heartbeat returned to normal and a sense of peace filled my mind and soul.
As much as I love my son and want him to live a fear-free life, God wants that even more for me and for you. The Bible has over 300 verses about fear in it! God knows our natural, human response is fear and the enemy uses our fear to paralyze us and keep us from living fervently for God. God wants us to live a fearless, faithful life, but the enemy wants us to live a fearful, faithless life. What will you choose?
You may not have night terrors like my son, but there may be other areas of your life where the enemy is attacking you, keeping you from following God. You may need to pray, asking God to reveal these fears to you so you can repent and resist the devil’s stronghold on you. Don’t be afraid. Whatever God is calling you to do, you can rest in His promises that He is equipping you for this journey. Step out in faith and follow Him.
When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4
Is unhealthy fear keeping you from moving forward in a certain area of your life? What are the lies the enemy has told you to keep you in fear? See if you can find five of the 300 verses in Scripture where God tells us not to be afraid and commit them to memory. Write them on index cards and stick them on your bathroom mirror or carry them with you. When it comes down to living fervently for the Lord, choose faithful over fearful.