Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”

Those words speak of my fears. They skulk about in the dark recesses of the mind, waiting for the opportune moment to whisper, “Do you know what could happen? If you aren’t careful,  this could ruin everything.”

I imagine lives undone. Relationships in tatters. Bodies wasting away in sterile hospital beds. Metal strewn about the highway. Grieving people gathered in the pews of a church. I realize my writer’s imagination coupled with fear sometimes runs away with me, but I’m convinced fear toys with others, as well.

In a world operating on rules outside of God’s best, it is easy to become consumed by fear. God, though, is far more powerful than events or activities we witness. After all, He is the Creator of both the visible and invisible. We don’t need to fear when we worship an omnipotent, Almighty God.

When Did Fear Originate?                                                                                                                                                               Fear originated in the Garden of Eden with the first bite of  the forbidden fruit. As soon as Adam and Eve allowed the first decadent taste of sin to slide down their throats, the couple knew they deserved God’s retribution and fear swelled in their hearts. Scripture tells us they hid from the Lord when they heard him walking in the Garden.

Since then, fear has gripped all of us. And, really, isn’t there a lot to fear when seen through the eyes of the world?

We are afraid of death. Disease. Assault. War. Economic collapse. Political upheaval. People who do or don’t comply with mandates. Scarcity.

But scripture reassures that we don’t need to live in fear when we worship an omnipotent God. Unlike Adam and Eve, our hearts are reconciled to Him through Christ. We have been brought close and our sins are covered. Fear originated in the Garden and was eradicated on the Cross.

7 Bible Verses That Help Fight Fear

• “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 (NKJV)
• “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
• “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6 (NKJV)
• Yea, 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 23:4 (NKJV)
• But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 (NKJV)
• Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.(Isaiah 41:10 ESV)
• When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 53:3-4 ESV)

There even strategies to fight fear which I’ve written about in this article.

Here, you can listen to me read a fear fighting Search results for “fear fighting psalms” | Tammy KenningtonPsalm.  https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXvoOmF3Mr/  

Download the list of Fourteen Fear Fighting Psalms or subscribe for access to it along with other freebies.

Now for this week’s link-up!

This week’s featured post is, For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness, by Michele Morin. A beautifully Biblical piece, Michele exhorts us to “Let spiritual practices of prayer and meditation strengthen the cords of connection between you and God.” For the One Who Feels Lonely and Dreads the Coming Darkness – Living Our Days (michelemorin.net)

I love the idea of putting candles in the window at night, Michele. Thank you for your encouraging words.

Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus. We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement every week. For a weekly reminder and access to the resource library, subscribe to [email protected].

Maree Dee

Tammy Kennington

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