Face the Fear
Have you ever found yourself worrying about what is gonna happen? How are you going to be able to make rent? How are you gonna pay off student loans? How are you gonna get through the really hard math class? It’s ok because I have too.
Worry is a common problem that many christians have. In fact, it’s a common tactic of the enemy to try and distract you from God. There is a book by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. In short the novel is about an advanced demon, Screwtape, training his nephew, Wormwood, and giving him advice to become a demon and how to get to humans and lure them away from God. Well, in chapter six, Screwtape brings up anxiety and suspense. There is a quote from the novel that says “There is nothing like suspense and anxiety for barricading a human’s mind against the Enemy. He wants men to be concerned with what they do; our business is to keep them thinking about what will happen to them.” (Lewis). The Devil sticks to his same tactics of worry and anxiety to keep us from looking to God. It is a premier barricade.
If you’re reading this you have probably fought many battles with anxiety but with every new season comes new worries. I just graduated, I know what I’m going to college for, I paid my college dues for the semester. However, I am still worried. I’m worried about making new friends, living with a new person, etc. worry is a constant struggle and, what we might not realize, a constant cross.
Luke 9:23 says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must first deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. A lot of times we see the forthcoming situation as the cross that we have to carry. That whatever happens, that is the cross that we have to carry. It even talks about that in the latter parts of chapter 6 of The Screwtape Letters. However, do we even realize that our cross to take u is the fear and anxiety that we are facing about the situation. We have to confront and get rid of our fear, then we can focus on the outcome and following God’s will.
Now how do you confront fear? Honestly, all I know how to do is to speak to it. However this isn’t just simply saying “Go away fear”. No, it’s more than that. It’s using the best weapon that we have. The weapon that is sharper than a double-edged sword. It’s his word.
What does the Word of God say about fear? A couple of things actually. One of my favorites that I always run back to is the assurance that is found in Matthew Chapter 6 funny enough.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:25-34
Each time that I tend to worry about something, I find myself going back to this passage of scripture, which for me is literally titled “The Cure for Anxiety”. It is highlighted to the tee in my Bible, the page is kind of crumply, and I even wrote it down separately to have it on its own piece of paper. I will never forget the words that it says. Yes we might be worried, but doesn’t he promise through this, because these are indeed Jesus’ words, that we will certainly have everything we need? It might not look like everything we want but surely it is everything we need. Jesus never lies. He never breaks his promises. He promises provision. Why do we still get so worried?
It truly is like the letters say. This fear and anxiety keeps us focused on what comes next and not the fear that we are actually facing. Because once you really speak scripture to the fear it is immediately confronted and slowly you start to not worry about these things.
Maybe you don’t feel worried now, you don’t have a fear about anything coming up. That’s good but you can hide this passage in your heart because it will come up. I had gone through a period like that recently where this passage was read to me and for once I was like “Hey, I’m actually not worried about anything right now, I feel stable.” I and those around myself had actually had the song “The Lord Will Provide” , which is basically this passage in song form, stuck in our heads as well. Later on we realized it was God’s provision and preparation because we had gotten some news that would normally rattle a household. But through it all we found peace because we had been reminded of his provision.
So let this be a reminder of his provision. Don’t let fear get in the way. Some of you might be experiencing job loss, others might be experiencing a bad diagnosis. Others of you might just be in the same situation I am, worrying about friends and starting new things in college or life in general. You don’t have to be scared of what’s to come. The Father loves you immensely and will always be there to provide for you in everything that you need. Again it might not be what you want, but what you need and what he knows that you need. Don’t forget the words found in Matthew 6 but also what is found in Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” and 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”. Hiding scriptures in your heart is the strongest weapon that you can use against the battle of the enemy. So don’t worry about what the future holds, instead face and fight the fear that you have with scripture.
