Controlled and Consumed

 

Is anyone out there sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you tired of living in fear? Is fear beginning to control you? Are you just wanting the world to stop so that you can hop off? Anyone longing for heaven?

Yes, and yes and yes.

Fear can at times be a good thing. It is an emotion that signals our bodies to respond to danger. Fear or uncertainty can cause us to look deeper, do more research, ask more questions, pray a whole lot more. But fear can become debilitating and can also control us.

Often what ends in fear and anxiety, had its start in concern. We begin by being concerned about an issue. Just a small concern, not too overwhelming, just a niggling thought in the back of our minds. And then as time goes on, and as we read more, see more, hear more, we become controlled by the fear. The issue that was once small and insignificant, suddenly rears its ugly head and we find ourselves controlled by it. And slowly it begins to consume us. We become so consumed by fear that we can’t think logically or practically anymore. We lose faith in what we trusted in and our behaviour starts to change.

Often our fear will cause us to go to the world for wisdom, instead of to the only one who has all the answers, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our fear drives us to seek counsel, but in all the wrong places. And fear can make us selfish too. We become so concerned for ourselves, that there is an inward focus. It becomes all about me. All about us. Others are forgotten and self is at the forefront.

It’s so hard to trust in God, in a supreme being, who we can’t see, that we often long for something tangible, some person that can help meet our needs.

How many times do we read in the Bible of men and women calling out to God, as they realized that he was their only hope of salvation? How many times do we, as Christians, seek everywhere but the one place we should be looking? God becomes a last resort, when every other avenue has been exhausted.

Oh, how I wish that every single step I take, every decision I make, every hurt I feel, every heartache I experience, every trial I go through, would be faced without fear because of my complete trust in the Lord. How I pray that God would always be my first port of call. The one I run to, when my heart is overwhelmed. The rock I cling to during the storms of life.

But all so often, it is not the case. Let me draw your attention to a Psalm in the Bible that is an encouragement to me and a reminder of what is needed.

Psalm 130:1-8

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Although this Psalm is written by King David and is personal to him and also the people of Israel, it is just as applicable to us today. This passage reminds us to look expectantly and with hope, to the Lord. It also encourages us to wait patiently on the Lord. Patience is often where I fall down. I’ll wait, but I won’t do it patiently. Yes, it’s something that doesn’t come naturally, we have to learn it and work on it and have God work it into our lives.

These verses also tell us to hope in the word of God. The Word of God is sure. It is unchanging and it is God breathed, inspired, and given to us from God himself.

And lastly, we are told to wait and pray with longing in our hearts. We are to watch for the salvation of the Lord.

Fear pushes patience down and out of sight. Fear drives hope away. Fear changes our focus. Fear squashes faith.

But faith in God can change all that! If we can take our eyes off our circumstances and put them on the Lord, if we can claim the promises found in his Word, and pray and wait and hope, we can change how we feel and how we respond.  The fear we hold inside can be replaced with peace and although the circumstances may not change, our focus will, and our behaviour will.

As we cling to the Lord, and put all our faith and trust in him, he will replace the fear with peace. He will bring calm in the chaos. Our anxieties will melt away and fear will be chased out.

Begin by remembering who you are in Christ. Focus on what God has promised you as a child of God. Think about who he says you are. Here are a few to get you started. You are Loved. Forgiven. Chosen. Adopted. Blessed. Justified. Redeemed. Free.

As his child, you are all of these and more! What a comfort to know that we don’t have to let fear control us. We need not be consumed by anxiety. God can calm even the most troubled soul and he can bring peace.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Although the world around us is falling apart, I can walk in faith and not by sight. Looking at the chaos with my own eyes is depressing. It’s fear-causing. It’s somewhat terrifying. But looking through the eyes of faith, sifting everything through the Word of God, praying about everything, asking God for wisdom in every situation and seeking guidance for each decision, brings peace.

Don’t let the fear of the unknown control you. Don’t let fear own you. Don’t let it take up residency in your heart. Don’t let it make camp in your home. It’s not welcome. Faith, yes! Fear, NO!

Isaiah 43:2

 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isaiah 41:13

 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.