Somewhere in Between: The Journey from Fear to Faith.

Essentially, fear is a false or exaggerated negative reality that can sometimes only exist in our heads; it oftentimes has a very specific goal of keeping us from exploring and experiencing something new. It serves as a stumbling block, keeping us from being free to live our lives to the fullest. It makes us believe that we do not have the right or permission to be who we want to be or do what we want to do. Fear can be a deliberate form of social conditioning, shaping our thoughts and actions towards what is acceptable, normal, or ordinary. It can have a purpose of instilling a toeing the line mentality even at times when we should have freedom to write our own narratives.

One therefore needs to be mindful of the information we take in from current affairs [news], social media, and negative conversations with others. Imagine from henceforth we could remember the following scriptures and exalt them as the highest truth in our lives above the fears;

Philippians 2:12_ So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].

2 Timothy 1:7 _ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 

So from these two scriptures two things are evident: Firstly, fear is not from God, and secondly, God doesn’t discredit fear but expects us to persist through it. So today, let us be encouraged that there’s grace made available for us to overcome our fears. Believe today that God has gone ahead of you to take care of that worst-case scenario in your head – how awesome is that?