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FEAR

 


Maybe I shouldn't say this as a Christian, but I enjoy watching scary movies. I started watching them around the age of eight, and I enjoy watching them to this day. There is nothing like the jump scares, the humor, and the horror scenes that make you cover your eyes. When I was younger the movies were campy and not very realistic, which allowed you to be scared at a safe distance. However, as I got older the scary movies have become too much, and often I can't finish them due to how fear-inducing they are. For some people, it is jumping from heights, or roller coasters, or running with bulls. However, fear that we can control is much more entertaining than fear we cannot. 

Just like with scary movies, as I have grown up the things that induce fear in me have become all too real. As a young kid bad grades, a book report, asking a girl out, or getting caught made me afraid. Now the fear has changed. My monsters are no longer called Freddie, Jason, and Michael; they are bills, debt, and provision. I no longer fear getting an axe to my back (although I wouldn't want that either), but getting the axe at work. My horror movie titles would be "Rent Due", "Empty Refrigerator", and "Surviving Between Paychecks Part 2000". Fear can cause me to shut down, cover my eyes, and throw the blanket over my head; hoping that the terror will pass by. 

Fear is a normal human response to scary situations outside of our control. We often forget that God clothes lilies (Luke 12:28), feeds birds (Luke 12:24), and promises to provide all our needs (Philippians 4:19) when hunger and homelessness are right in front of us. How can we overcome the very real feeling of fear when we cannot see how God is moving in our lives? How can we trust God in the middle of fear?

We must start to train our minds to know that God is with us at all times. Even when He is silent, He is still there. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10, which instructs us to "fear not for God is with us". I can have very real problems, try to do what I can about it, and still trust that God will be with me in the middle of it. We are instructed that we can fear not because God is with us, and be not afraid because He is our God. As our God, He will strengthen us, keep us, and uphold us with His righteous right hand. 

God help us to trust you in the midst of our fears. 

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