Fear And Worry

Fear and Worry

Prayer-

Father, thank you for Jesus-

Thank you Father for your willingness to meet us where we are at and take us where we need to be.

Thank you for your Holy Spirit that desires to guide and lead through life’s trials not only to survive but to live the abundant life that comes from knowing Jesus. Amen.

Introduction-

This morning I want to take a look at fear-

Fear comes in many shapes and sizes and is different for each one of us.

What would cause fear to some has little to no barrier to someone else.

Did I tell you I do not like roller coasters? Of course I did! Several different times!

I do not think a roller coaster is fun. I get no pleasure out of climbing up in the air…click, click, click to a high point and be drop down and suddenly taken left, right, up, down. Maybe crashing into water like that would be added fun.

The Fun family can do that, this guy not so much!

Raising my hands…pretending like I was having the time of my life. No Thanks.

I get absolutely no joy going to a scary movie and sitting in the seat to be suddenly put into an anxiety attack where my heart is ready to jump out of my chest.

I am not the cliff jumper, the bungee jumper… I would never jump out of a perfectly good air plane unless it was on fire.

I am a risk taker, but I like to think that it is a calculated risk taker.

There is no need for me to do those things so I don’t. I would dive in a river and save someone. I would help at a traffic accident if someone needed help and it was dangerous. I am not afraid of blood and good under pressure- but no thanks to thrill seeking.

Fear is what you perceive to be scary- I fear those things but that is not why I don’t like doing it- it is because common sense to me says why! What is the benefit? What is the pleasure?

Some would enjoy those things and they fear things that I am not afraid of.

I am not afraid of spiders, most bugs, deep water, guns, dogs, going fast, or the unknown. Snakes are not high on my list.

I fear…reverencing the Lord.

Holy reverence of almighty God so that I not forget who He is and how our lives are to be lived.

I don’t want to forget what He has done for me and live my life like He done nothing!

I fear… being the best husband, Father, and grandfather.

Not a fear of being scared, but a intense desire to get it right and knowing that it won’t happen without the Lord’s help.

I fear my kids and grandkids won’t love the lord as much as I do.

I fear… that someone I talked too wanted to talk about the Lord but I was too busy and blind to see it.

I struggle with people who have no fear of God or what is to happen after this life is over.

I cannot get over my fears without the help of the Lord.

I don’t know how you go through life’s challenges without Him. He is the one that helps me deal with all my fears and anxieties.

I find that the older I get and the longer I serve God that my fears are diminished a little by life experiences because of a closer relationship with the Lord

One of the best Biblical Illustrations of conquering fear is David and Goliath 1 Samuel chapter 17

David lived in a time when the whole army of Israel was afraid to fight the great Philistine giant Goliath. The shepherd David was willing to go after the goliath that tormented Israel. Why?

Because at other times in his life, God used circumstances in his life to build up his faith to overcome his fear.

He got his training by taking down bears and lions when he was protecting his sheep entrusted to him.

When others were asked to step up to Goliath, they did not have what it took to slay the giant because God had not already prepared them in their life-

David said to his giant- “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, whom you have defied.”

How many of us can say that to the fears we are facing?- How many can trust their Lord enough to step out of comfort and into the realm of battle knowing that if God is not in it, you will not be victorious?