Fear and doubt are common human experiences that can have a big impact on our lives. They effect people differently and often go unseen because they rise from within the heart. But to the person experiencing them, they are very real and can be debilitating. Just as fear has the ability to paralyse someone if it’s allowed, faith in Jesus Christ has the ability to empower a person to face challenges with courage.
Faith that is enabled by God brings a sinner into a living relationship with Jesus Christ which is energised by the Holy Spirit who lives within. Therefore, every Christian should understand that God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
But how does a Christian, who is naturally nervous or fearful, overcome those struggles now that they have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living within?
For such believers, it’s important to understand that you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God (1 Peter 1:23). It is NOT by physical or emotional elements that a believer received salvation. No, rebirth was a unique work of God that was enable by you listening to and obeying God’s Word in faith. Being born again was purely a spiritual work of God within you. Therefore, overcoming struggles will also be a spiritual work of God within you as you continue to grow in your faith and walk in obedience.
Remember, Paul told Timothy (2Ti 1:7), that the Spirit expresses power, love, and self-control. So believers need to live daily in a way that pleases the Lord and enables the Holy Spirit to action His nature of power, love, and self-control within us. Following are a few things that assist us in this.
- Trust in God’s presence, even on the dark days when you do not feel Him emotionally. Faith believes God’s promise of be present and never leaving us. In Jesus final and greatest commission to the disciples, and us, He said that I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20. Cf. Psa 23:4; 34:20; John 14:1-3). Faith believes this to be true!
- Do NOT practice worry as worry and anxiety feed fear and doubt. Worry is a choice that we make which causes great harm to our faith. Jesus explained to His disciples in Matthew 6:25-34, that they should NOT be anxious because God loves them and will provide for them. Faith believes this to be true!
- Intentionally put on the armour of God as Paul instructed us to do in Ephesians 6:10-18. It is God’s armour that enables us to have victory over the devil (Eph 6:12-13). Choose daily to put on: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes ready with the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Faith believes God’s armour to be true and effective!
- Spend time daily in God’s Word. Read it, meditate on it, memorise it, and obey it. Invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind as you drink in God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2. Cf. 2Co 10:4-5; Eph 5:6; Heb 4:12). Faith believes God’s Word cleanses and strengthens our hearts.
- Replace fear and doubts with worship daily. Listen to worship songs, sing worship, whistle worship, clap worship, pray worship, think worship, and speak worship. When worship with thanksgiving is active, there is little room left for fear and doubts (Eph 5:4, 19-20). Worship is an important part of being spirit filled. Colossians 3:16-17, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Faith believes this to be true!
AMEN!