Celestial Diary

Fear is a universal emotion that comes from the anticipation of danger, pain, or harm. It serves a crucial role in human experience, acting as a protective mechanism by alerting us to potential threats and preparing us for confrontation.

However, like any emotion, an excess of fear is harmful and as children of God, it is crucial not to let fear take control of our lives. There are multiple scriptures wherein God tells us to not be afraid but as humans we tend to forget this in times of difficulties.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

From a biblical view fear is a spirit that is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind). It is a spirit that can hinder our life’s progress, make us doubt the power of God and lead us into making mistakes.
Responding to fear generally involves the ‘fight or flight’ dynamic, and the choice made in this crucial moment can dramatically alter the course of one’s life.

We’ve all witnessed individuals who, driven by fear, made regrettable life decisions. Unfortunately, these initial mistakes often set off a chain reaction, leading to a series of further missteps.
Some hesitate to take a step due to fear, and so they never experience success. Those lacking courage in life often achieve little because they avoid risks, allowing fear to take control of their lives.

Picture yourself in a state of overwhelming anxiety, and someone offers reassurances like ‘It is well,’ ‘Pray, and everything will be fine,’ or ‘I’ll keep you in my prayers.’ Or even imagine hearing less empathetic advice like ‘Get over yourself and move on’.
These types of statements tend to overlook the real struggles individuals face and they often place blame on them. They suggest that if only someone were a better Christian, prayed more, or worked harder, they wouldn’t find themselves in their current situation.

This can be discouraging to hear, regardless of one’s maturity in Christ. While it’s essential to turn to prayer during times of distress and appreciate the little we have, it doesn’t mean we can’t be sad, discouraged or depressed. Nevertheless we need to take control of our lives and advocate for what we deserve. Afterall the gospel doesn’t promise us a life free of hardships.

So what can we actually do when we are living in fear?
Proverbs 24: 5-6
⁵ A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
⁶ For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

1. Read the bible, study and meditate on the Word of God because knowledge is power: In order to fight our demons, we need to know what we’re dealing with and how to strategize. Don’t forget we’re dealing with the spirit of fear and evil spirits can be destroyed. Fight the spirit of fear with the word of God (for what is bound in the heavens, is bound on earth).
2. Don’t forget you’re not alone in this battle: No matter how difficult the situation is or how depressed you might be feeling, remember you’re not alone. God knows and sees all, He cares for us and will not allow us to face hardships alone.
3. Do some self reflection: Without self reflection we’re bound to make the same mistakes over and over again. What is the situation we’re facing? What are we afraid of? Why are we afraid? What can be done about this? Who can we talk to? What are the patterns we see in our lives?
   Without identifying what triggers our anxiety, we’ll continue to be tormented by our fears. We shouldn’t underestimate the power trauma has when left untreated.
4. Listen to the voice of God: What is God telling you to do in this particular situation? Are the choices we’re about to make aligned with the scriptures? Is this a situation where you wait or are you meant to take action?
   Trust the voice of God and do what He says.
5. Be motivated: Instead of just praying and waiting all the time, take action! Prayer is powerful, but you also need to put in the work. You can’t expect to reap where you didn’t sow. Stand up, work hard, and trust that God will guide and support your efforts.
6. Don’t be negative: When you make the decision to take action, stay focused and don’t let anything or anyone divert you from your path. The words we speak have power, so it’s important to be mindful of what we say about ourselves and what we declare into existence.

I know from experience that fighting the spirit of fear isn’t an easy feat.

Story time:

Throughout high school, acing tests felt like second nature as long as I studied well enough. However, the transition to university brought an unexpected setback. In my first semester studying law, I received disheartening results like a slap in the face – a stark contrast to the expectations set by my reputation as someone who loved reading. There was external pressure, with people assuming it would be easy for me. Moreso as an immigrant child, excelling would have been a testament for my family, and it could have challenged the biased perceptions of some professors. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to achieve the expected results.

After that initial setback, I found myself questioning my abilities. Despite understanding the course material, fear of failing again during exams paralyzed me. This fear became a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading to further disappointment and a shattered sense of self. The burden of staining my family’s honor haunted me. I decided to change courses from law to psychology, not because I lacked capability, but because I had lost faith in myself. Unfortunately, I didn’t address the root cause, allowing the fear to persist. Every exam season since that semester I experienced anxiety and negative thoughts, I would isolate myself from others and even fall sick. Despite prayers, I struggled to believe in my potential. The initial experience of failure had led to profound fear, hindering me not only in academics but also in various aspects of my life.

In my mind I knew what I needed to do – let go and move forward. However, the persistent fear that no matter how hard I studied, failure was still possible, continued to control me. I recall a specific instance when I chose not to study for an exam because I was so scared. In my mind, failing due to a lack of preparation seemed better than failing despite putting in considerable effort (of course I never told my parents this). This illustrates the extent to which the spirit of fear can influence our decisions if we allow it to take control.

I know I’m a work in progress, and there are moments when fear still tries to take control and I fall into my old habits. However, I’m trying to surrender it all to God. When negative thoughts creep in, I consciously remind myself of the times when God intervened on my behalf. In my prayers, I seek not only solutions to my problems but also pray for the strength to resist succumbing to my fears.

The process can take a while with improvements and setbacks but I’m confident that with God on our side, nothing is impossible.

Stay Blessed x