“Fear can divert our life energy from investing in real people and things and wasting it on a mirage. God creates faith, and Satan counteracts that faith with his counterfeit of fear.”
“Some of the concern was legitimate—based on actual negative things happening in the present that we needed to deal with. Some of the concern was illegitimate—based on possible negative things in the future, many of which did not happen.”-Mark Driscoll (both quotes)
I used to spend a lot of time worrying about the “what if’s” and trying to plan contingencies to avoid the worst case scenarios I had built up in my mind. However, I’m wired to be present and observe everything going on around me. Trying to plan for the future worst case senarios while trying to live life in the moment was unnecessarily dividing my attention and exhausting me intellectually and emotionally.
One thing that has changed my perspective and given me peace when I’m tempted to fear, is asking the question, “What is the worst that could happen?” I quickly realize that the worst case scenario is either, not as bad as I’m making it out to be (95% of the time) or even if it is a terrible worst case scenario, if I rely on myself to fix the problem I will worry I’m not able to fix the problem, because 
-maybe I’m not. I’ll focus on the impossibility for me to work it out. But, that shouldn’t make me fear, because I have God and I can roll with it. And it’s at that moment of realization of my seemingly impossible situation, my inadequacy to deal with my problem, that I should have the biggest fear but instead, true inner peace comes in. When my fear meets my faith, and faith wins.
Fear is a liar. I believe the Bible when it says I’m not alone, that God can do the impossible and more than I could ever imagine. I have the Holy Spirit, God sent it to me as my helper, so I use it as my guide and my companion. I believe the Bible when it says, “God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline”- and I say it in a Hulk voice. I believe the Bible when it says He will equip me with His strength. I believe the Bible when it says His power is made perfect in my weakness. I believe the Bible when it says to cast my fears, burdens, worries on Him and He will sustain me. And you want to know why I believe these things? For the same reason I believe anything. Because I’ve tried it and it works! I can’t imagine a life without God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If I didn’t have them I would be fearful because the impossible would all be on me. If I didn’t believe in the Lord’s sovereignty, I would think everything was an accident instead of Devine orchestration or at least not a surprise to God that it is happening. It’s not just comforting to know God knows everything, but that He knows what to do. It’s everything.
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” -2 Timothy 1:6-9 NLT
“Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” -Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
LMM
Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash
Scott Maxon 