Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 6 2023
Fear is Not the Opposite of Love
As I have gotten older, I am seeing friends, and family dying much younger in life. It gives us all a pause but to many a deeply rooted fear. I think there is a difference between taking responsible precautions to care for your health and fear. So I did a little research and found some definitions both insightful and uplifting.
While fear cowers, faith stands. While fear frets, faith prays.
While fear looks within, faith looks to Jesus.
While fear despairs, faith hopes.
As nouns, the difference between faith and fear is that faith is a feeling, conviction, or belief that something is true or real, not contingent upon reason or justification while fear is a strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It is the belief that, although we cannot tangibly see God, we know that He is present and working in our lives.
I completely disagree that faith is a belief in something that cannot be verified, true faith is based on Truth, not fantasy. I cannot tell you how many times God has shown Himself real in my life, by showing up in an obvious way that proved
it was God’s intervention.
How many times has that happened to you that was beyond a coincidence?
It is sometimes said that fear is the opposite of love because the scriptures say that “perfect love casts out fear.” but that doesn’t mean fear is the opposite of love. It only means that love and fear can’t exist in the same heart and mind at the same time. The same can be said about love and hate, pride, sinful desires, and enmity since perfect love casts out hate, pride, sinful desires, and enmity.
God desires for our faith to grow, and we are instructed through the Scriptures on how to develop a faith that conquers fears. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Studying the Word of God is paramount in building strong faith. To know Him and rely on His direction in our lives, we must seek to understand Scripture.
Without trials, faith does not mature or strengthen. God understands our weaknesses and fears, but He also commands us to use trials as opportunities to grow our faith. Or we can allow them to cause us to be bitter and cynical.
By digging deeper into God’s word, we discover there are verses for every kind of fear! When we face anxiety about the future: God will “instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). (What a comforting promise) When we face financial trouble: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). When we experience physical ailments or hardships: “… suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3–5).
Wow, to me that is more than uplifting, it is assuring. I choose to believe God’s words are true and that He does not waiver in His truth as men do. Fear is our human reaction to the trials that we will face in this life, but God promises us that we can experience peace in every situation. His peace “surpasses all understanding” and “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Lord, use me to be an instrument of your peace to others. Calming, assuring, uplifting…using your words as a soothing balm in the face of calamity and discouragement. Lord, we lift up Kaylee a young 21 yr old woman struggling for her life with cancer. Receive the prayers of this army as we pray for her healing. Lord be glorified in extending her life as a testament to your grace and loving mercy.
Sandi Patti. How Great Thou Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8BumYH8n1k&list=RDFeNA1NoJJH4&index=2
