The Destruction of Fear

Last week, I was re-introduced to fear and what it looks like when people give in to it, and live according to its haunting and tormenting persona. Due to following Covid-19 protocol, and due to a never-ending stream of negative and fearful news stories, our world has seemed to become a fearful place to be, unsafe, a lot colder and it seems, less friendly as we all attempt to avoid each other! 

A recent and rare trip to Costco created anxiety for me, since nearly everyone was wearing a mask, and in fact, you were handed one on your way in. Prior to that, my specialist appointment was so sterile I felt like I was in a Star Trek movie, as everything was white and most of the personal nick-nacs and photos, once a comforting sight, were all removed! No one else was in the office as the waiting area had been removed. The appointment, where me and the doctor had always enjoyed good conversation, went by so fast, I was in and out of there in record time! Nothing was the same, and I couldn’t wait to get out of there!

There was more. People expressed fear in opening up my usual places where I socialize.  One of them is an art club, since I like to do art and show my work whenever I can.  They felt it would be unwise and unsafe to open the gallery.  Thankfully, there is little to fear since where I live has no cases of the virus! Based on this and other factors, I know it would work because I have recently had success when I have put out my artistic wares to sell (and of course I offered hand sanitizer and practiced social distancing)!  I am also living out the faith I believe in with all my heart and soul. God is with me and will never leave me or forsake me!

I say I was “re-introduced” to fear, because it’s been many years since I too, not knowing any better, succumbed to a few years of living in debilitating fear. It got so bad that I couldn’t even leave my apartment to go and buy groceries. I couldn’t move more than a few feet at a time outside of the safe confines of my apartment. Getting to the car became a major feat. Then when I reached the grocery store, I had to wait to still my rapid heart beat enough to get inside, grab a cart and start getting what I needed to eat. Waiting in a long line up was sheer torture, and I thought I’d faint wondering if I could make it to the till without passing out or throwing up. Fear had me in a vice grip and I had no idea how to get rid of it.

I sought help of course, and was greatly aided when my doctor sent me to a 12-step program. Here I met people who suffered even worse than I. I learned that talking about our problems in a “safe” environment works wonders, and somehow lightens the load of whatever we’re carrying. Fear manifests in many different ways. I learned that anger, depression, lethargy and even suicidal thoughts all largely stem from fear. My paranoia stemmed from being harassed, then assaulted, then stocked all within the space of a few months. I bottomed out, and felt burned out as well from my hectic lifestyle of working full time and attending night school twice a week (and summer school) for several years to get my degree.

Its Not Just About Learning to Cope - It’s about Taking Control!

All I want to say about fear is that unless and until you (I mean that generically) take control of it, it will definitely control you! And I won’t say that taking pills or drugs are the answer because you likely haven’t dealt with the real problem. But maybe you could take them until you do deal with the root problem. Some members of my group learned the necessary tools to get rid of fear, and then slowly stopped taking the pills. But it was scary for them.

I also learned practical coping skills from Dr. Claire Week’s books, to breathe, take your time, be good to yourself and a plethora of other really good advice. I’m thankful that she helped me cope. But the anxiety problems persisted! I learned early on that it’s not a trip to the ocean that will take away your anxiety and fear. It’s not trips to the spa, nor is it alcohol, drugs, or another person, or visits from your children or grandchildren that will take away your anxiety (they might actually add to it). The root problem, I was to discover, is spiritual.

One time I read a well-documented book by an author I trust that said fear is a spirit. It’s not an emotion, although if you dwell on fearful thoughts, you will feel emotionally afraid. No, it is actually a spirit. But I didn’t directly encounter this spirit until one day well after we had moved from the apartment in the city to a quieter, more rural life. Mistakenly, I thought once again that a move from a stressful environment would remove the anxiety attacks, but it didn’t. One day I was taking a drive to the city and I had only gotten about 15 miles away, when all of a sudden, I started to panic. I couldn’t figure out why. It was such a beautiful day. Then I had this revelation that it was fear and I had the right to speak to it, and get rid of it according to Scripture. So, I quoted this verse:

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Do you know that the feeling of fear and anxiety instantly left me, never to return in that way again – surprising me and startling me?

I do not believe for one minute that God intends us to live in fear. The Bible says that fear has torment:

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

The verse before it says we are to be bold:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Wow! As we move forward, love conquers fear. Love is for the purpose of stamping out fear. People are living in fear. God’s love in us is to present an opportunity for them to get free from their fear, and sinful life that has them in chains of unbelief. That is WHAT LOVE MEANS - LOVE IS NOT TO TOLERATE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! God does not overlook sin, does He? Show me in Scripture where God overlooks sin. We are not doing our neighbour any good by not praying for their salvation from the very sin that has them in chains! What and when we speak to them – that is what the Lord will give us when the time is right! And it is never easy to step out and share the truth in love with someone who may be opposed to Christians, God, and love.  Love is to be presented to the lost in the midst of their messy life. But we do not condone sin, neither does our Lord! As He is, so are we in this world!

Adam and Eve actually never experienced fear until “after” they sinned. And God didn’t put fear on them. It was a consequence of their disobedient actions. They actually brought in on themselves. Here is the passage:

Gen 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Gen 3:11  And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

And so, fear can come upon us when we do something wrong and it will remain with us until we make it right!

The fear I am referring to is a fear that is come to steal a full and abundant life we are called to live. The Covid-19 is not to put everyone in fear, to stay home, and be so afraid to come out that you end up a paranoid schizophrenic! NO! I believe it is to make us better people, filled with faith, to see what we will do in the face of great adversity! Will we give in to the fear? Will we continue to love one another? Or will we live as people of faith? I choose freedom, to live as a person of faith! Of course, I will abide by the rules of the government authorities as much as possible, but I will not be brought under the rule of fear!

If you are struggling with fear, please read Psalm 91 and Psalm 27. Bless you more abundantly as you prayerfully and faith-fully journey through this difficult time!