Faith is the opposite of Fear

​Fear does not often look like fear.

​Most of us would recognise it as the persistent words of doubt that swirl around in our minds, the weight of emotion on our hearts, or the churning feeling in our gut. Fear has a devious way of disguising itself as anxiety, stress, or even anger. It thrives in times of uncertainty, where the heaviness of our circumstances seems to be resting solely on our shoulders.

Even as followers of Jesus, we are not immune to fear. Life still throws us curveballs which we must navigate, and this can lead us to worry about our security and our significance. When it boils down to it, fear stems from a place of doubt about WHO we are and WHOSE we are.
In Matthew 6:25 – 34, Jesus speaks of the everyday fears that can plague our thoughts. He acknowledges that we have legitimate needs but encourages us to shift our focus towards the One who loves us and has promised to provide for us.
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” (Matthew 6:26, NLT)
 
This shift in focus can be summed up in one word – FAITH. When we choose to have faith in the Lord through difficult circumstances, we are declaring that he is sovereign over all things. We are trusting that we are who he says we are – his cherished children. And we are resting in his promise that he is with us always. This is what gives us the strength to keep moving forward.
“So do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10, NLT).

So what does faith look like in practice?
PRAY - bring your fears to the Lord in prayer and ask for his peace and guidance.
READ THE BIBLE – it’s important to know God’s character and the promises that he has made to you.
FOLLOW HIS LEAD – listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit and confirm with trusted others before stepping out.
 
Fear may be crafty and persistent, but it has no power over us when we are walking in faith with the Lord. ​

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This was originally written as a message of encouragement for my church and posted on their social media only, but I know that the struggles of fear and faith are universal. So I'm sharing it here in the hopes that it will be an encouragement to you today.