What To Do With Your Fear

Introduction

David teaches us that it is possible to acknowledge the potential for harm without being overcome by fear. When it comes to danger or perceived danger there are typically two crowds. There is usually a group of people who are hyper sensitive to the potential dangers that threaten the well being of their physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual lives. These are the people who go into a panic anytime there is potential danger. This crowd usually will trip the alarm before any facts have been presented or before the reports can be confirmed. These people are hyper sensitive to anything that could potentially somehow affect them negatively in some way. It does not take any concrete data or proof to set them off but just an inkling of a threat sends them into panic mode. They become emotional. They become defensive. They become jealous. They become territorial. They become controlling. They are sent into a panic and act irrationally because these type of people can only find comfort by being in complete control of every situation. These are people who lack faith that is necessary to handle danger with rationale and with grace.

The second crowd is the crowd who does not seemed to be concerned with anything almost as if nothing can affect them. This crowd ignores all the warnings. This crowd seems to be detached from reality to some degree. They live in the world but in their minds they live in a world that is completely unaffected or uninfluenced by the rest of the world. These people boast about their faith in away that contradicts better judgement and Godly wisdom. Often times they confuse their faith in themselves with their faith in God. Pride is not faith. Ignorance is not faith. The response of the hyper sensitive person is irrational. The response of the insensitive person is irresponsible. The Bible encourages us constantly and consistently to exercise wisdom and use better judgement throughout.

It is not the absence or fear, neither is it the presence of fear that gives us an accurate measurement of one’s faith. It is actually the response to fear that helps us to assess our faith. At some point in all of our lives we will be threatened in someway by some thing. Here David deals with the reality of being trampled on by his enemies. David does not let the prospect of being persecuted consume him. Rather, David’s response to this threat drives him to God. Beloved, this is the proper response to fear. Fear should drive us to God.

I. God Is Our Help

David realizes that he must surrender to help that is above both he and his enemies.

II. God Is Our Trust

1 John 4:18 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

III. God Is Our Protection

Conclusion