Saturday, August 12, 2017

Fear and Worry Are The Same Thing - Both The Enemy Of Faith



Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26

{CHAMBERS} “When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. […] “…O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves […] There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him. [Sanctification] will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him.”

{ELGIN} There is really no difference between worry and fear.  They both are a reaction to an uncertain future.  So many times God said do not be afraid, and so many times Jesus said “fear not” and do not worry.  Why? Because God is sovereign and He is our defender and help in times of trouble. You may be able to do a great many things, but you cannot conquer death and disease.  You cannot control events around you, as least as much as you think you can.  You are a leaf in the eternal wind.  Job said “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)  Paul said “I have learned to be content in all circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11-13) The lack of fear and worry has to do with where you have placed your trust. (Psalm 20:7) “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”  That level of trust begins with your conversion … when you are born again.  You were saved by grace through faith – or trust, if you will (Ephesians 2:8-9)  For many it stops there, but that is not God’s intent and that is not sufficient to face the storms of life.  With a weak faith, you will surely turn to your own devices when trouble comes.  The Psalmist asks this question understanding that he is in the palm of the Creator God’s hand. (Psalm 42:5) “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Don’t set certain things aside that you have decided only you can deal with.  (Proverbs 3:6) “In all your ways acknowledge Him”.  Trust God.

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