Faith Over Fear: What the Bible Actually Teaches About Conquering Anxiety
I heard a pastor tell a story recently of how fear can destroy.
A young woman in the congregation asked for prayer for distressing symptoms. No doctor could discover why she had them. The pastor sensed it was fear based.
Two months later, she died in the hospital with her organs failing. An autopsy revealed that no organ was diseased.
Her parents confirmed that she was totally overwhelmed by fear. Fear evidently killed their daughter.
Here are some important ways you can defeat the spirit of fear with faith:
Faith is “fear-less.”
God told Joshua to “Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid or dismayed” (Josh. 1:9).
Jesus told several people who needed healing to “take courage.” Courage (“heartage” in Old French) is to have faith in your heart instead of fear in your brain.
Focus on growing the courage in your heart. “TAKE courage,” don’t just leave it. As you read, study, and meditate on Scripture, your heart grows in “courage”--and fear runs out the back door.
Faith is “act-ive.”
Passive faith is dead faith. James said, “Faith without works (corresponding actions) is dead.”
Smith Wigglesworth said, “Faith is an ACT.” Jesus told Peter to “Come on the water.” Elisha told Namaan the leper to “dip seven times in the Jordan.” Joshua walked around Jericho for seven days.
Jesus told the ten lepers to “Go, show yourselves to the priest.” The Bible says, “As they were going, they were healed.”
Passive, actionless faith is dead. A child will only jump off the diving board into its parents waiting arms if it has faith. Otherwise, it will just stand there bouncing on the board.
Starting “acting out your faith.”
Faith is “peace-ful.”
Psalms 23 is a story of peace: “green pastures, still waters, paths of righteousness.” It describes a pastoral setting where Jesus is our Shepherd.
Then, comes the valley. Even in that dark valley, we will “fear no evil, for you are with me.” That sheep had peace, even in the darkest valley.
Paul described it this way (Phil. 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.”
Psychologists are alarmed that prescriptions for “anxiety medication” have grown to 38 million adults in America (1 out of every 7 adults).
They have now isolated over 500 different “phobias.” Anxiety, stress, and worry is growing fastest in women and in young adults ages 18-34. The secret of anxiety is the supernatural peace of God. It will literally “guard” (mount garrison around) your mind and heart.
You can defeat fear, worry, and anxiety.
How? “Be fearless, be active, be peaceful.”