What is your biggest fear?
Some people are scared of snakes. Some of spiders. Do you have this kind of fear? Have you ever been just absolutely overwhelmed by a fear like this?
In what ways are your fears currently affecting your relationships, your career, or your life as a whole? Do they keep you from fully living your life?
Fear is a universal problem. We all struggle with fear in one way or another. In some cases, these fears can be so overwhelming and irrational that they are called phobias. Some of these phobias seem downright silly to those of us who do not have them (e.g. the fear of baths, the fear of long words, the fear of bellybuttons, etc.). As James MacDonald teaches, the word “fear” appears 441 times in the Bible—this does not include the occurrences of its synonyms, such as dread or terror. Fear is one of the most common subjects in all of God’s Word, so it is no surprise that one of the most common exhortations from God’s messengers is “fear not” or “do not fear.” The good news is that there is a promise to aid us against our problem of fear: God is with us.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Romans 8:31-34 NLT
Knowing that God is for you, how should this change the way you face your fears?
In what ways have your fears tried condemning you?
What comes to mind when you think of Christ sitting next to the Father interceding on your behalf?
God gave His Son for you, His only Son as punishment for our sin. As James MacDonald puts it, “God has already given to you His best, will He not also give you something less if you ask?” God is always with us, always for us, and always ready to help us through our fear. Yes, our fears may be great, but greater than our greatest fears is the intercession of Jesus on our behalf. It is an amazing thought to think that Jesus intercedes on our behalf, that He has prayed for us and defended us. There is no fear that can overshadow this truth. When you have Jesus in your corner, you can take on any fear that happens to be in the ring with you.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
1 Timothy 1:7 NLT
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:15-16 NLT
What are these verses making very clear to us?
What worries or fears keep you from living according to a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind?
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 34:28 NLT
How has God’s presence been a game-changer in your life?
When was a time God’s presence chased away your fears?
It has been said that you can’t keep fear from visiting you, but you can slam the door in its face. The way we do so is through proclaiming God’s promises, specifically His promise to be present. It makes sense, then, that when we lean into God’s presence and His promises we begin to see our fears diminish. Fear has no place in the life of a Christian because the presence of God casts out fear. Yes, we all experience moments of fear. However, as these verses teach us, God is near to us in our time of need and He will never abandon us.
When was a time when God felt far?
What particular fears tend to creep in whenever God’s presence feels faint?
What is your response when these fears begin appearing in your life?