Fear, Worry, and Doubt - The Three Spirits of Doom

Fear, worry, and doubt - The crippling and paralyzing things that we do to ourselves with the help of outside forces that keep us moving in circles like a hamster on an exercise wheel.  We know that there is no end, yet we keep going and do not get off the ride.


Fear -
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)


We are taught to be afraid.  We learn this by trying things and getting hurt.  It does not matter what the situation is, for every behavior there is an outcome.  Some are pleasurable, some are painful.  The painful ones make us afraid to try again.


Think about small children.  I remember my daughter having no fear about anything.  More than once, I thought I was having a heart attack watching her climb a tall ladder to go down a slide, or when she jumped off a platform that I thought was too high.  My son now delights me with torture by the same methods (I think they shared the secret).


But as they get older, fear starts to set in and things change.  Now they are afraid of saying the wrong thing, or that people won't like them, or that they will fall (from that same ladder they climbed only a year ago).  My point is that their fear keeps them from doing things.


Part of the joy of Jesus is that he came to give life and to give life more abundantly.(Read John 10:10).  The thief comes to kill, rob, and destroy.  He comes to steal your joy, to kill your adventurous spirit, and to destroy your abundant or full life.


Romans 8:15 - For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."


For me fear means


Forgetting
Everything
Abba
Removed


God sent his Son to intercede within the world to create a bridge between man and God.  There is nothing to fear.  Jesus is here, he is here indeed.


We have a path lit for us, yet the world pulls us off the path.


We fear - Ever use the question "What if" to determine your course of action?  Do you avoid the decision that brings you the most fear because it may be God directed and outside your comfort zone?


We worry - What will everyone else think of me?  I know a lot of people (and I am one as well) who will say "I don't care what people think of me!".  Yet, it always flashes.  Every time I write a post, I flash back to who I was and doubt creeps in about what others who knew me at that time will think about the things they see here.  The truth is these days, those thoughts are more fleeting as my faith, resolve, and direction become more cemented in our Lord Jesus.


We doubt - Why me?  Who me?  I can't do that!!  


I wrote recently about finding my Dad.  I really wanted to find my Dad from the time I was 18 years old.  I had not seen him since I was 6.  Fear, Worry, and Doubt kept me from making any sort of move to find him for 29 years.  29 years that the enemy stole my ability to live life more abundantly.  29 years of worry, doubt, and fear about the man that I missed.  29 years of an inability to express those things or to find the ultimate joy that God has graced me with since finding him.


29 years is a long time.


I had friends that did not even have lives that lasted 29 years.


But let me tell you something - God blessed me.  I don't remember much about the 29 years I did not have with my Dad, but the last 5 with him have been nothing short of miraculous.  My point is that moving past the fear, worry, and doubt can bless you beyond your wildest dreams.


Matthew 6:27 - Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?


Matthew 6:34 - So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.


Cast your doubts, fears, worries, and cares upon the Lord.  His ear is tuned, his shoulders are broad, and his heart is large. 


Many blessings to each of you.  Rest assured that no matter your faults or failures, your worries or doubts, your trials or tribulations, your greatest fear...God is in control and He loves you.


Pastor Jim