Have you ever seen the bumper sticker, "Fear not" on the back of a car and wondered what it means? It's actually a clothing line logo, but the saying is from the Bible;
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
The Bible says we are to not be afraid of our circumstances that can cause us discomfort and worry. Because we have a faith in God, who is always with us, we do not have to be afraid. But what if you don't know God or the promises he makes? You are STILL going to have to go through difficulties, but you won't have the assurance of God's presence with you. So, if you KNOW you're going to have to go through the difficulty anyway, why not enter into the difficulty knowing God's got your back?
If you believe in God, but do not have a relationship with him, do you really KNOW God? You may think you are friends with a famous movie star, but if they have never heard of you or even met you, do you really know them? The same goes for your relationship with God. I heard over 80% of Americans profess to be"Christian" and believe in "God," but have never read the Bible and don't go to church. The Bible offers that to "fear" God is to hold him in high reverence and respect. It's kind of like a father having the ability to look at his children and get immediate compliance because they know their father and what that look means (disappointment, anger, possible consequences are coming). God is the father who both loves, but who also disciplines his children because he loves them and wants what's best for them,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7
When you break it down, it's not about fear at all. It's about having confidence in God and his ability to bring you through your difficult circumstances. When you have no confidence in your own abilities, God's abilities are limitless. When you are fearful, it's not God's will that causes you pain; it's your failure to trust him. Your fear actually makes you trust God less, and by default you put more trust (faith) in your own abilities. So when you fear and fail, it's not God who failed you, but you who failed yourself.
"The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else,
whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." Oswald Chambers.
So the next time you are facing a difficult situation that has you anxious and fearful, talk to God. Ultimately, the choice is yours, Fear...or Fear Not?