Written March 25, 2020
None of us can escape the side effects of COVID-19 in our world right now. Though most of us are not dealing with the physical disease, we all are dealing with the effects of it in our daily lives with schools closing, gatherings cancelled, and grocery stores out of stock of common household items. It is easy to be sucked into the fear of this new strain of coronavirus as it is all around us, but we don’t have to be!
What is Fear?
Fear is like a wildfire, and like a wildfire, there are two ways to deal with it; you can fuel it or you can fight it. A fire is fed by brush and wood, but how is fear fed? Fear is fed by our thoughts, usually irrational, our emotions, and by the emotions, words, and actions of those around us. It is EASY to feed fear! Most people do it daily. It is common to find ourselves imagining the worst possible outcome for ourselves, our children, our jobs, etc., and the more we let ourselves entertain those thoughts, the more we feed the fire of fear in our hearts. But the good news is, that we don’t have to. We don’t have to let fear rule our hearts and dictate our decisions; we can have power over it!
How Can I Overcome Fear?
How do we do that? If we look at a wildfire, we see that it is put out by water, as water removes the oxygen from the heat source, thereby stopping the chemical reaction of fire. Likewise, fear is also a chemical reaction that produces what’s called the “fight or flight” response. It starts in the brain and then quickly spreads to the rest of the body causing physical symptoms such as a racing heart and faster breathing. This fight or flight response also leads us to make decisions before we think through them first. In order to put out fear, we have to stop the chemical reaction - we have to separate the fuel from that which causes it to burn. What’s beautiful about this process is that unlike a fire that needs an outside source to put it out, we have the power and the ability to stop the spread of fear in our own hearts by using the tools God has given us, and His Spirit within us. We don’t have to wait for fear to be put to rest until the circumstances around us change. We have His word in our hearts, and His truth is what causes the separation needed to put fear to rest.
I love Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here is the exact formula for overcoming fear/anxiety. In everything, pray and ask God. Tell Him your needs. Next, be thankful. Thank God for everything that He's done, everything that He is. And the result: the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard yourhearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Ann Voskamp in her book, "One Thousand Gifts," talks about this verse and shares that researchers have determined that it's impossible for our minds to be thankful and anxious at the same time. Being thankful is powerful! It's how we stop the continual cycle of fueling fear in our hearts, and you can train your mind to do this. I encourage you, like Ann Voskamp did, to declare at least 3 things that you're thankful for everyday. Write them down, and if you're in a situation where fear is overwhelming you, look at what you've written. Look at God's Word, remind yourself of who He is, of His promises, of His faithfulness, and declare the truth aloud. Declare your praises aloud, and watch fear and anxiety lose their power and their hold over you.
The Truth Will Set You Free
Truth is what sets us free from fear. Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” Fear brings death, but His word brings truth and life. I encourage you today to take a stand against fear, to declare God’s truth over your life, your family, your community and your nation. Declare God’s peace and His victory! Thank Him that His word brings life, that He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who Heals. Thank Him for His promises in Psalm 91 that say he will keep you from the pestilence, from disaster, and from destruction when we make Him our refuge. Thank Him for being the Prince of Peace and for being the ruler of your heart. Take a stance today! Take an offensive stance and fight fear head on with praise, with thanksgiving, and with the truth of God’s word. Speak it out, don’t be quiet about it. God is for us!
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