Fear and Faith
Faith. A common definition would be ‘The complete trust in something, despite surrounding circumstances.’ These surrounding circumstances, more often than not, are contrary to the faith we have been given, for they test the strength of our faith. Faith, as Paul describes, is being certain of what we do not see. And I believe the opposite of faith is fear.
Fear would have us constantly be governed by circumstance. Looking at what is happening around us, where we’re believing for something, but it looks like the steps towards the goal aren’t falling into place. Thinking we have to strive in our own strength, that God is no support, that he can not be trusted to carry out what we pray for. We treat God, sometimes, like he is a person. That he is finite in power, and limited in action. Fear that he is incapable of doing what we asked, of completing the plan he has for us, that we believe will come to pass through faith is wont to arise. However, ‘God is not a man, that he should lie. Nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?’[Num 23:19]
So, our faith is robbed by fear. Standing firm against fear is hard, which is why we are to surrender to God our fears. There is no harm in admitting them, for when that is done, God is able to move to take them from your life, and the vacating of fears makes room for his perfect love, which casts out (or drives out) all fear.[1 Jn 4:18]
Faith is not something to be gained through works. To each He has given a measure of faith, [Rom 12:3] and it is up to us how much we allow it to be strengthened through trials and testing, and how much we are willing to put it into practice. Fear should not hinder our faith, since our Lord has told us to fear not. Faith is important, for it is impossible to please the heart of God without it [Heb 11:6]. It goes hand in hand with our love for Him, showing him that we trust him completely. As Paul wrote to the Galatian church these words, they are as much for us today as they were for them all those years ago, in helping us, through God’s strength, to place faith in perspective.
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." [Gal 5:6b]
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