Weekly Magazine | Overcome Fear with Faith
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Dear Friends,
In a world brimming with uncertainties, fear and worry can often overshadow our peace. This issue is dedicated to guiding you through those turbulent emotions with hope and faith. We’re here to remind you that, even in the stormiest of times, God’s presence and promises offer you a refuge of calm. May these words and reflections inspire you as you face your fears and discover the peace and courage God offers.
Encouraging You in His Truth,
Trading Fear for Faith
By: Claire Scott
I’m afraid of a lot of things, spiders and bugs being at the very top of the list. I’m afraid that if I don’t study my Bible enough, our Abba Father won’t love me. I’m afraid that my beautiful daughter will be attacked while walking home alone in the dark. I’m afraid that my son won’t find his way back to the Father and be lost forever. I’m afraid that my husband won’t return from a trip to Africa and my dad will stop remembering me because of Alzheimer’s. I could go on writing this list, but I won’t. Dwelling on a list of fears is not healthy!
I think, perhaps, that my journey with anxiety started as a young teenager at school. Report cards—the sound of those two words still fills me with dread, knowing that when my Dad saw those grades, there would be big trouble. The days of skipping classes and not doing my homework were recorded on a page that my father held in his hand; my sin had found me out. I dreaded the punishment that I knew would follow.
When you are afraid, fear begins to paralyze you. Anxiety incapacitates you. Distress immobilizes you. You cannot walk forward if you are letting fear take root in your soul. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
I’ve read this Scripture before, but this time it made me do a double take, changed my thinking; it penetrated my soul and spirit, my joints and marrow, so sharp was this word from the Lord. “Fear has to do with punishment!” Fear whispers in your ear the very worst possible outcome. It shouts its bitterness and poison into your spirit until your mind plays over and over again its sulfurous synopsis. Fear tells you that your Father won’t love you—it tells you of an angry God waiting to pour out the fire of judgement upon your head. Fear tells you that you cannot trust the Lord in all things, that you cannot believe in His promises, His goodness, His kindness, and His perfect love.
When you are afraid, fear begins to paralyze you. Anxiety incapacitates you. Distress immobilizes you. You cannot walk forward if you are letting fear take root in your soul.
Several years ago, the Lord spoke to me about letting fear overwhelm me. I worried so much that I was wrapped up in great chains of anxiety. Our great Redeemer showed me His incredible love, His glorious grace, and tender mercies. He showed me that He had a plan to break off every chain of apprehension, that fear of punishment, that cycle of imagining the worst possible outcome.
Don't forget...this is your FREE monthly mini-magazine issue. If you would like to receive an issue every week, upgrade your subscription to paid today!I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Israel, and while I was there I was baptized in the Sea of Galilee, the very place where Peter walked on water, where Peter had begun to sink into the depths because of his fear (Matt. 14:29-31). Fear took hold of Peter’s heart when he saw the ferocity of the wind, when he saw what he was up against. He was afraid of a disastrous outcome, and so he began to sink.
How often, when we stop having faith, focusing on the problem and not on Jesus, do we begin to sink deeper and deeper into the muck and the mire of our own anxious thoughts? Jesus is right there, hand outstretched, ready to pull you back into the boat. I love how this Scripture says, “immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him” (Matt. 14:31, emphasis mine).
The Great I Am will give you strength in your weakness, He will give you hope and encouragement, He will give you the ability to move beyond your paralysis and walk forward.
If we take our eyes off the storm and fully trust our Sovereign God, there will be no fear of punishment. If we concentrate on His goodness, we will not be afraid of the outcome, but will know that He will always work all things together for good (Rom. 8:28). If we rely on His perfect love, we will know that we can leave our loved ones in His hands. No matter what we are walking through, we need never be afraid, He is walking beside us, showing us the way, ready to catch us if we begin to sink. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
The Great I Am will give you strength in your weakness, He will give you hope and encouragement, He will give you the ability to move beyond your paralysis and walk forward. He will bring you to a place where there is no fear of punishment, no fear of the outcome, just faith and hope in His perfect love, in His plan for your life!
“Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). The One who paid it all loves you so completely that He has already taken your punishment. Take heart, rest in His perfect love for you. God is not a God sitting angrily on His throne waiting to shell out retribution the moment you put a foot out of line. In fact, He already knows you will fall, you will sin, and you will stumble. But, in His great mercy, in His great love, He sent Jesus to pay the price, to take that sin to the cross, for you.
When our wonderful Abba Father gets your report card, all He sees is A-plus, well done, and great work! Washed by the blood of a Savior, all the bad marks are redeemed by the perfect love of our Jesus. We need not live in fear. The love of Jesus cleanses, purifies, and makes us holy, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. He puts a fine robe upon your back and a ring on your finger (Luke 15:22). He is the lifter of your head, He is the one who gives you confidence, and boldness to stand before your Father, made perfect in His love.
Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Prayer:
Lord, when fear grips my heart, help me to turn to You in faith. Remind me that You are my refuge and strength, always present in times of trouble. Fill me with Your peace and courage, so I may walk boldly in the path You have set before me. Amen.
Reflect:
What fear are you holding onto today, and how can you actively choose faith over that fear?
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The Truth About Worry
By: Jill Briscoe
Worry can feel like a heavy burden, one that weighs us down and steals our peace. But Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:25-34 that worry adds nothing to our lives. Instead, He calls us to trust in God's provision and care. Worry often stems from a desire to control outcomes, but the truth is, we are not in control—God is. Learning to release our worries to Him is a process of faith. Each time we choose to trust God instead of worrying, we take a step closer to the peace that surpasses all understanding. The truth about worry is that it distracts us from the abundant life God has for us. By fixing our eyes on Jesus and seeking His kingdom first, we can break free from the cycle of worry and live in the freedom He offers…
Bible Verse: 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Prayer:
Father, help me to trust You with all my worries. I know that You care deeply for me and are in control of every aspect of my life. Teach me to live in the present, fully relying on Your provision and grace for each day. Amen.
Reflect:
What worries are weighing you down today, and how can you entrust them to God?
Free Falling Through Fear
By: Meredith King
Fear can feel like free-falling into the unknown, with nothing to hold onto. But even in our darkest moments, God is with us, offering His hand to catch us. Psalm 23:4 reminds us that even though we walk through the darkest valley, we need not fear, for God is with us. This journey through fear is not one we take alone; God is our guide, our protector, and our comforter. He understands our fears and invites us to bring them to Him. As we fall, we can trust that God will not let us go. He is faithful to carry us through every fear, every doubt, and every uncertainty. By clinging to His promises, we find the courage to face our fears, knowing that we are never alone…
Bible Verse: Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Prayer:
Lord, in the midst of my fears, I trust that You are with me. Even when the path ahead is dark and uncertain, I know that You are my guide and protector. Help me to surrender my fears to You and rest in the assurance of Your presence. Amen.
Reflect:
When you face fear, how can you remind yourself of God's constant presence and protection?
Encouragement for Your Soul
STILL WATERS (PSALM 23)—LEANNA CRAWFORD
Great Aunt Maurine said at a hundred and three
Write scripture on your heart for when you need it
Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23
So just say it to yourself ’til you believe it
And I’m feeling like I’m needing it right now
…
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters ’til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me My Father, my Friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I’m safe
…
Lord I believe You can set me at ease
Turn this broken piece in me to peace and quiet
I know there’s power in Your word
So I’ll say it over and over ’til my soul’s reminded
…
Oh The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters ’til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me my Father, my Friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I’m safe
…
Still waters run through
Any valley I could find
I’m laying fear down
Here at Heaven’s riverside
Your word has been true
In every season of my life
I believe, yes I believe that
…
Still waters run through
Any valley I could find
I’m laying fear down
Here at Heaven’s riverside
Your word has been true
In every season of my life
I believe, yes I believe
…
Oh the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He leads me by still waters ’til my fears are gone
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
O I know You are with me my Father, my Friend
Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days
I know by your still waters I’m safe
Songwriters: Leanna Crawford, Jonathan Gamble, Justin Mark Richards
© 2023 Leanna Crawford Publishing Designee / Be Essential Songs (BMI); Jonathan Conrad Gamble Publishing / Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI); Justin Mark Richards, Publishing Designee
