DON’T LET FEAR HOLD YOU BACK

Text: Psalm 56:3; Habakkuk 2:3

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” - Psalm 56:3 (NKJV)

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time… Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” - Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

Introduction

We all experience fear from time to time. Everybody gets scared of something at some point. It could be anything from the prospect of failing, being disappointed, rejected, or losing something important to worries about money, health, the future, or even death itself. While it's normal to feel anxious sometimes, it's risky to let that anxiety dictate our actions, beliefs, and future. Fear is a powerful weapon that the enemy can use to keep people from God, make them doubt His promises, cause them to give up on their purpose, and keep them stuck in situations they were meant to conquer. When we're afraid, we might see obstacles where God has already laid them down.

Whether or not we will ever be afraid is less important than knowing how to escape from terror when it strikes. At times of fear, David said, "I will put my trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). "I will never be afraid" was not anything he said. What he did show was how to trust God in the face of fear.

In the month of September, we are reminded that God is the God who brings about harvests, realities, manifestations, and deliveries. God has already spoken the promises, spoken the prayers, planted the seeds, and now we wait for them to bear fruit. Stay committed to what God has for you and don't let fear pull you away from it.

A set period is given to God's vision, as we are reminded in Habakkuk 2:3. It will come to pass, no matter how long it takes.

Unfortunately, there are certain individuals who, upon realizing that others are scared, exploit them. Because of their fear, people are more likely to be manipulated, intimidated, deceived, and develop an unhealthy reliance on other people. So, trust God with all your heart and don't let fear cloud your judgment. Despite your fears, you must not allow them to hinder you.

1. WHEN FEAR COMES, RUN TO GOD, NOT AWAY FROM HIM

We can find a powerful and simple reaction to dread in Psalm 56:3: "No matter how scared I am, I will put my faith in You." Even though David knew dread could come, he would not allow it to control his actions. Our fears want us to do things like hide, run away, give up, or think the worst. Our faith directs us to seek God. The power of prayer should grow, not diminish, in the face of ambiguity. Our trust in God's character ought to grow stronger in times of uncertainty.

We do not need to be in charge of everything before we can trust God, as Rick Warren so eloquently reminds us by emphasizing that we must trust God regardless of the result. Even though we cannot always make sense of things, God knows everything and can do anything. Although the specifics of God's plan may remain a mystery to you, have faith that He is at work.

Anxietists wonder, "What if things go wrong?" Faith asks, "What if God is planning something bigger than what I can see?" Refrain from giving in to despair when faced with dread. Let God into your heart. Do not forget: You are not obligated to allow fear to enter just because it knocks.

2. DO NOT ALLOW FEAR TO DELAY YOUR DESTINY

The inability to act in response to threats is a major risk associated with fear. Some people have brilliant ideas, but they put them on the back burner out of fear of failing. A lot of people have had chances knocked on their door, but they let their fears keep them from taking advantage of them. Some have heard God's call on their lives, but they have been paralyzed with dread and have not yet crossed the finish line. "I can" can become "I cannot" when faced with fear.

God, however, has not commanded us to remain adrift indefinitely. "Despite its lingering, wait for it; it will surely come and will not delay," says Habakkuk 2:3. Being a prisoner of fear is different from patiently waiting on God. It takes faith and patience to wait on God. Distinct from other types of doubt, fear-driven delay stems from a lack of faith and certainty.

September is a time of harvest, delivery, manifestation, and actuality, so you should not allow fear to hold you back. Maybe a breakthrough has been on the horizon for you. Maintain your faith. Maybe you have been hoping for a fresh chance at success. Remain diligent in your preparations. Maybe you have a vision that God has put in your heart. Do not stop.

The fear of failing again may have been a result of past setbacks. Embrace the freedom that comes with moving on from the agony of the past. Your fears may have their roots in your past, but they should not dictate your present or future.

The devotional emphasis on concentrating and ending strong in the Nigerian Baptist Convention serves as a reminder that while beginning is vital, finishing is just as crucial. Do not give up on a God-given mission because of minor setbacks. Go forward. Have faith. Do not cease your prayers. Remain diligent in your preparations.

3. DO NOT LET FEAR MAKE YOU VULNERABLE TO MANIPULATION

Fear can also affect our judgment. People are more likely to fall for the promises of those who provide easy answers, safety, approval, wealth, power, or a way out of their difficulties while they are in a state of severe fear. Some people make an effort to understand and play on other people's concerns in order to exert control over them.

They might threaten dire consequences if you proceed with this action. "I am essential to your success." "Things that are about to happen should make you scared." "There is nothing else you can do." "Listen up, you dweeb."

A person's self-assurance, assets, connections, choices, and even their beliefs can all be eroded by fear. Fear, however, is not something God wants His children to submit to. It is said in 2 Timothy 1:7: "For the spirit of fear has not been given to us by God, but rather a spirit of power, love, and sound mind." Hebrews 11:1–2.

Being fearful could impair one's ability to think clearly. When your faith is firm in God's Word, you will be able to tell the difference between real warning and baseless fear. Being reckless is not the same as being daring. Belief does not imply disregarding knowledge. Instead, faith empowers you to confront reality head-on, fearlessly.

Refrain from letting yourself be limited by the manipulation of others. Refrain from being silent in the face of intimidation. When God calls you to rely on Him, do not let fear make you reliant on other people. In the end, you can trust no one except God.

CONCLUSION

Even though we all feel fear from time to time, we must not let it control us. Even though we may go through times of doubt, discouragement, stress, and worry, we have a God who is faithful no matter what. "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You," says Psalm 56:3. This is absolutely the correct attitude.

Take note that David did not disagree that fear existed; he just would not let it dictate his actions. He put his trust in God.

In the midst of September, a time of harvest, delivery, manifestation, and actuality, don't let fear cause you to give up on your dreams. Although God's promises may take some time to fulfill, it is not the same as denying them. There is a specific time for the vision, as stated in Habakkuk 2:3. Be patient if it appears to be lingering; it will arrive at the right time.

It is our duty to be faithful to God and to put our trust in Him no matter what happens, as Rick Warren so eloquently put it. We can have faith in the One who sees the big picture even when we don't.

Similarly, the exhortation to stay focused and finish strong serves as a reminder that we should not let fleeting difficulties derail our progress toward fulfilling God's will for our life. Beyond the here and now, our lives have a greater purpose, as stressed in the book The Purpose Driven Life. No amount of fear should ever cause you to give up on that goal.

Faith, prayer, preparation, and onward motion must be maintained. You must not allow fear to prevent you from testifying. Refrain from letting fear expose you to manipulation. Refrain from giving up on the chances God has given you because you are afraid.

Your greatest days are ahead of you; do not allow fear to tell you otherwise. Even as He was with you yesterday, so is He with you now, and He will be even more so tomorrow.

Be patient; your harvest will be worth it. It was worth it to hear your testimony. The fight for your goal is worthwhile. Continue to go forward while keeping your focus on Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

Take a moment to reflect prayerfully on these questions:

1. What am I currently afraid of, and have I taken that fear to God in prayer?

2. Is there something God has placed in my heart that fear has prevented me from pursuing?

3. Have past disappointments caused me to become afraid of trying again?

4. Am I waiting patiently on God's timing, or am I allowing fear to create unnecessary delay?

5. Is there anyone taking advantage of my fears, insecurities, or vulnerabilities?

6. Am I trusting God for the outcome even when I cannot see the complete picture?

7. What step of faith do I need to take this September?

PRAYERS

Prayer for Freedom from Fear

Heavenly Father,

Thank You because You are my refuge, strength, and ever-present help. Whenever fear comes upon me, help me to trust You rather than run away from You.

Every fear that has kept me from moving forward, let it lose its power over my life. Give me courage to face tomorrow with faith and confidence.

Lord, replace my fear with faith, my anxiety with peace, my confusion with clarity, and my weakness with strength.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

John Aderogba for ROPMI