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When We Are Fearful
As
God’s children, we have no basis
for fear. Did you know that? While
we may experience moments of
trepidation, our fear is to give
way to God’s peace every time. In
many cases, the reason we become
afraid is our faulty thinking.
Adequate vs. Inadequate. Some
of us believe we’re inadequate.
When adverse circumstances arise,
we become anxious because we are
convinced we don’t have what is
needed for the situation. It is
not the circumstance but rather
the error in our thinking that is
causing the fear. The truth is
that in Christ, we are “more than
conquerors,” which means we are
adequate. (Romans 8:37 niv)
God’s Standards vs. Our Standards.
Many of us set standards for
ourselves that are unrealistic and
beyond our capacity to perform.
Such goals impose undue pressure
and generate anxiety in us when we
fail. We believe these goals are
what God expects, but in fact many
aren’t His standards at all—they
are our own. When we seek to live
according to His pattern, fear
will be replaced by peace and joy.
Grace vs. Guilt. Some of us
live with a sense of guilt. We
believe we have done something in
the past that causes God to be
displeased with us even now. We
are fearful about future mistakes
we might make. Be mindful of the
truth: in Christ, all our sins are
forgiven, and our guilt has been
removed. (Romans 8:1) Because of
God’s grace, we can replace our
feelings of guilt with His love
and peace.
Next time fear comes calling,
answer it with God’s truth and
watch it turn away.
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