Fear is something most people exhibit in life, though in different manifestations and magnitudes. For some it is fear of failure, fear of dying, fear of letting others down, fear of living alone, just to name a few. Moreover, as you read through the Bible, you see that fear is not unique to those of us in the 21st century, but one phrase that reappears over and over throughout the Bible is, “Do not be afraid.” I pray for you, because of the havoc that fear brings into people’s lives, that God will help you overcome all your fears in Jesus name.

Elijah as a model:

What is one thing you can think of whenever you think of Prophet Elijah? He stopped rain, he commanded fire to fall and he commanded rain to fall, not to mention many other miracles God used him to perform. However fear was also a part of his life as a human being and this was big enough to stop him from completing his mission in life.

Fear

• Fear brings anxiousness and panic, leading one to stop living or finish without completing

1 Kgs 19 depicts the life of a champion who got overtaken by fear and was led to stop living a fulfilled life, ending up as a hopeless runaway who began to ask God for death as he felt alone.

In the case of Prophet Elijah, his fear came from spoken words – of Jezebel, negative thoughts stemming from those words and circumstances (vs. 2) as he lost focus from God and had it on the woman. When he looked unto God, he was able to command fire to fall, he was able to command rain to fall. He was able to command demonic prophets to be killed. This is the same thing that happened when Peter lost focus from God and began to see the wind and waves of the waters.

• Fear makes one run from people – In verse 3 he ran from Jezebel (about 100 miles from Jezreel to Beersheba). The bible however says in Proverbs 29:25 that, “The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.” GNT
• Fear makes one abandon people who care – verse 3 he left his servant at Beersheba
• Fear makes one lose hope in God, give up and pray for death – verse 4
• Fear brings defeat, loss of position and relevance – Elijah’s office was taken away from him and given to someone else (Elisha) who replaced him.

Are you afraid of failing in School? This could will lead one to cheat.
If you are afraid of loneliness and rejection, it could push you to get involved with the wrong crowd – looking for acceptance or sense of belonging.
If you are afraid of not having a boyfriend/girlfriend, you may end up giving in to improper sexual advances.

At all cost, you must pray to God to help you overcome your fears. Pray that God will give you victory over fear, so that your purpose in life will not be dashed or cut off. Pray to God, asking for help in a scary situation and casting the concerns upon Him – 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Max Lucardo says, “act on it.” This means you should not let time pass before dealing with whatever is causing you to be afraid and taking steps to overcome the situation. The more it lingers, the worse the situation gets.

Share your feelings with loved one, they will help you. Better yet, share your fear with Jesus Christ, He will give you victory over it. The bible says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:16 NIV