WHAT DOES THE BIBLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT FEAR? ABOUT WORRIES AND ANXIETIES? DON’T DO IT. DON’T HAVE THEM.
Though we know we are to not worry and that we are to cast our cares on the Lord, how many actually do it? This isn’t because we aren’t willing to but because WE DON’T KNOW HOW; and we don’t actually think we CAN do it. There is an underlying thought that we excuse our worrying with, “God knows I can’t do that.”
But why did God tell us so many times not to fear, not to have anxieties or worries? Because He doesn’t want us to do it and He knew it could be a constant temptation. He told us not to worry not just to give us another thing to have to do to please Him but because He actually cares for us. Worry, fear, stress – these are things we are not designed to carry, things that will kill our bodies over time. So it would benefit us greatly to learn how to do what God says to do and then to actually DO IT.
(See February 26 article on Freedom from Fear).
1 Peter 5:
7 (Amplified) – Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all you concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Phillips – You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.
Living Bible – Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
In the Bible, we are told not to worry and many, many times we are told to “fear not.” Here is a link to a document listing over 50 of these instances not including the ones telling us not to worry or be anxious. How many times does God have to tell us something before we actually think we have to do it?
Thank God the Bible doesn’t just tell us WHAT to do; but also teaches us HOW TO do it.
The key here to successfully getting your cares to stay on Him lies in the end of the verse, “because He cares for you.” If you don’t know how much He actually cares for you, you can’t rest and trust in Him and let go of you cares, and they will keep coming back. As some of the translations say, “He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully,” “You are His personal concern,” “He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” These kinds of thoughts are the cure to worry, anxiety and fear.
Throughout His Word, God doesn’t just tell us not to fear; He always gives us reasons to not fear. He says such things as, “fear not, FOR I am with you,” fear not, FOR I will help you,” “fear not, FOR I will never leave your nor forsake you.” Take a look at these Fear not scriptures and look for reasons not to fear.
It is the reality and awareness of His love, care and present help that pushes out the fear; it is not just trying to stop being afraid and striving to stop worrying. It must be replaced at the very depth of your beliefs with the knowledge that He actually does care about you, is with you and will take care of you.
Casting your cares on the Lord involves a trading of your present anxious thoughts with thoughts of Him, of His love, His care, His character and His sure promises. But it is at more than a superficial level. You must replace the thoughts at the level of your heart. That sometimes takes time. Taking the time to replace your thoughts and renew your mind to His love and care is not as hard as struggling to believe and make your cares stay on Him – year after year after year, until you finally just give up. Take hold of Him and focus your mind on Him. This will force the cares out. You can get rid of cares by taking the time, effort and concentration to enter His presence through praise and worship and letting your mind focus on Him and His good promises rather than the problems you are tempted to worry about.
Knowing and believing His perfect love for you will displace the fear. It will push it out and replace it. As it says in the Amplified Bible, perfect, complete love will turn fear out the door and expel every trace of terror.
1 John 4:16-18 – We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love…There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels ever trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love.
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This week I’ll begin talking about God being a present help to us in every situation we find ourselves in. Next week, I’ll get into talking about how there is always a way out any situation of life.
