What is fear?
Fear is a natural, powerful, and primitive human emotion. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological. Sometimes fear stems from real threats, but it can also originate from imagined dangers.
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 AMP
“..Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]…”
Matthew 14:22-32, is a story of Peter walking on water. This story illustrates the entrance of fear when faith is not present. The disciples displayed fear when they saw Jesus walk on water towards them, they thought he was a ghost.
However Peter displayed faith when he said to Jesus “command me to come to you on the water” and when Jesus said “come”, Peter began to walk on water by FAITH (Matthew 14:28-29). Unfortunately, Peter began to sink when he became fearful of the heavy winds.
What happened?
When Peter took his focus of Jesus and began to focus on the heavy winds, his faith was dampled and gave room for fear to come, which caused him to sink. Peter magnified his environment over Jesus and therefore became fixated with what he perceived as a threat. FEAR WAS PRESENT & FAITH WAS ABSENT!
I’m sure most of us, if not all can relate to Peter, where we have magnified our circumstances, issues, difficulties over God’s Word that has decreased our faith and given room for fear to be present. When fear is present, we forget God’s Word and promise for us which then produces anxiety and doubt for our future.
It is important for us to know that Fear is not from God.
2 Timothy 1:7 AMP- “…For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]…”
Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
in Matthew 14:31, which shows that Peter doubted because his faith became stifled due to fear. So Faith is a VITAL ingredient to overcome fear.
What are the ways we can overcome fear and strengthen our faith?
1. Hearing the Word Of God (via sermons, bible study & fellowship)
Romans 10:17 AMP- “..So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ…”
2. Meditation on God’s word
Psalms 77:12 AMP- “..I will meditate on all Your works And thoughtfully consider all Your [great and wondrous] deeds..”
3. Prayer
Philippians 4:6 AMP- “..Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God..”
4. Praise
Psalms 100:4-5 AMP- “..Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations..”
5. Declaration (of God’s Word over your circumstances, situation and atmosphere).
Job 22:28 AMP- “..You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways..”
So brothers and sisters, let’s not magnify our circumstances, situations, difficulties & environment over God and his Word but rather let us magnify God & his Word over our circumstances, situations, difficulties & environment. This will increase our Faith to overcome Fear.
Stay blessed and encouraged
