Fears – Whit Criswell

I was on a flight one day when all of a sudden, our plane started shaking. We had hit an awful storm! Our plane shook for thirty minutes. I knew I had gone pale. When I got off the plane, I immediately knelt down and kissed the ground.

Without a doubt, we live in a world of fear. According to psychiatrist James Reich, in the Journal of News and Mental Disease, 3% of the population in the United States experience panic, 6% agoraphobia, 3% generalized anxiety, more than 2% simple phobias, and nearly 2% social phobias. More than 13 million people are affected.

Donald Maderos stated in his book, Children Under Stress, that 25% of children said they are afraid they might get hurt when they leave the house, and 60% of children between ages seven and eleven are afraid someone might break into their house and hurt them. Psychology today polled its readers and found the greatest fear was death, then fear of a serious illness, and then financial worries.

Denis Witley, in his book, Seeds of Greatness, tells of a study done in the University of Michigan on fear in relationship to reality. The study indicated that 60% of our fears are totally unwanted, because they never come to pass. Twenty percent of our fears are out of our control. Ten percent of out fears are so petty they don’t make any difference at all. Of the remaining 10%, only 4-5% are real and justifiable.

Whether real or imagined, fears plague everyone. Fear is a reality. It goes back to Adam when he said to God, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid….” (Genesis 3:10 NIV)
Babies are born with only two basic fears: The fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. So if we only have two fears when we are born, then that means we can unlearn all other fears.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4 NIV

Here are some ways we can overcome fear:

1. Choose Faith instead of doubt

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Remember you have a choice: "Attitude is 10%" of what's happening to you, but it's 90% of the way you choose to react."

2. Turn to God's word for strength

Genesis 26:24
And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake."

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

1 john 4:18
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.

Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:11
In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

3. Find peace in the prayers of others
You pray for yourself and others. You can also ask people to pray for you. Courage is defined as fear that has said its prayers. God is never late when His Children call out!

4. Ask God to deliver you from fears
If it’s any encouragement to you, Jesus had fears too.

Matthew 26:36-42
God already knows your fears. Ask Him to extend a calming hand to you right now.

Try God

When troubles are deep and your world is dark,

Don’t give up hope, “try God”

When life turns sour and you’ve lost your way,

Don’t give up hope, “try God”

When fears stack up and you’re sure no one cares,

Don’t give up hope, “try God”

Source: Unknown