We live in a world riddled with fear and paralyzed by anxiety. From dire warnings about global warming to the latest strain of killer flu, much that we read and hear about is couched in fear. Fear and anxiety often drive the stock market. Investors and brokers are described as “nervous” or “skittish.” A scene in the movie Trading Places depicts a group of stock brokers gathered in the men’s room gulping antacid on cue before the bell rings to open the stock exchange. What an unpleasant way to live!

Unfortunately, some Christians let fear and anxiety rule their hearts and ruin their lives. Our loving Father does not want his children to live this way. “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). A little girl with bandaged eyes could be seen waving her hand in despair. A compassionate doctor saw her and took her hand in his. Her fear instantly subsided. We must learn to put our hand in the hand of the Great Physician who calmed the sea and can calm the storms that rage in our minds.

The Greek word for “fear” is phobas from which we get “phobia.” Some of our fears are natural: fear of growing old, getting sick, and losing our life’s savings. But most fears are unnatural. Child experts tell us we are born with only two natural fears: fear of falling and fear of loud noises. Julius Caesar was afraid of thunder. Peter the Great was afraid to set foot on a bridge. A great French general, fearless in war, was mortally afraid of cats! Ralph Waldo Emerson said that fear always springs from ignorance. Most of the things we fear never materialize. “Anxiety is the interest paid on trouble before it is due” (William Ralph Inge).

Sin introduced fear. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they attempted to hide from God. Why? Because they were now dominated by fear. Adam told God, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (Genesis 3:10). George Sewell said that fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt. Many live in fear and anxiety, afraid they will be found out because of some secret sin they have committed or harbored.

The Open Bible defines anxiety as “a disturbed state of mind produced by real or imaginary fears.” Anxiety seems to be the child of fear. Our words “anguish,” “anxious,” and “anxiety” come from the Latin angere which means to choke. In the Parable of the Sower Jesus said, “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making in unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22 ). Don’t let anxiety over financial matters choke your spiritual life. Charles Spurgeon said, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” My grandmother used to say, “Worry is a rocking chair that never takes you anywhere.”

“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind,” said Arthur Somers Roche. “If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” If you have friends who are suffering from fear and anxiety, the best thing you can do is spend time with them, praying with them and sharing pertinent passages from God’s Word. They need to know that you care and that God cares for them.

The book of Revelation opens with John in exile on the isle of Patmos. One day the living Christ appeared to him. When John saw him, he was frightened and fell at his feet as though dead. Notice what Christ did next. “But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; . . . I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen’” (Revelation 1:17, 18, New King James Version).

Now fast forward to Revelation chapter two. Some Christians in Smyrna are about to suffer for their faith. Fear is rising up in their throats, almost choking them to death. But the voice of the living Christ penetrates the darkness like a bright, white light: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10, NKJV).

We have this wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (New International Version). Let’s focus our thoughts upon an all-loving and all-powerful God. Billy Graham said, “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and his will for us.”

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3, 4). George Muller noted, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith; and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” Start trusting God.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). C. S. Lewis said, “Anxiety is not only a pain which we must ask God to assuage but also a weakness we must ask him to pardon—for he’s told us to take no care for the morrow.”

I like the old prayer of the Christians in Africa: “Lord Jesus, make my heart sit down.” When Moses saw that the Israelites were having a panic attack at the Red Sea, he said to them, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13). When we cease fearing, stand firm, and stand still, the agents of fear and anxiety will disappear. Let God fight for you! “You need only to be still.”

Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. The event was so overwhelming that the three disciples were terrorized and paralyzed with fear. “But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus” (Matthew 17:7, 8). He touches us by his reassuring presence and his never-changing words.

My dear friend C. Y. Kim was held in a Korean prison cell for two and a half years. He was overcome with loneliness, cold, and hunger. Worse than the rats that occupied his cell were the rats of fear that gnawed at his faith. But one night he felt a presence in his cell—the warmth of a hand upon his shoulder. No one was there. Or was there? Brother Kim cried out, “Lord, is that you? Lord, is that you?”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He continues to encourage us. “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” (Revelation 1:17, 18). |L