We all have fears from time to time. Sometimes they are real fears, and sometimes anticipated fears of what may happen. Fear can be good as it can save a person from a dangerous situation. Fear can also be negative and can result, in emotional instability, or an inability to perform some needed tasks, or even into sin.
I am sure most of us are familiar with the two definitions of the word, “fear.” One being the trembling fear, and the other being reverential fear of the Lord, as Solomon spoke about. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7. Also, the faithful believers in the early Christian church were living by the true fear of the Lord. “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31
When someone asks you though, “What are you afraid of?” what would you answer? This sentence is normally spoken in reference to the trembling fear and can be asked in one of two ways.
Firstly, it can be an encouragement for someone trying something new, something that they feel nervous about. Perhaps it is riding a horse for the first time. Maybe it is public speaking for the first time, or any other situation or activity that the person feels fearful about. Then, someone comes and encourages them with the words, “What are you afraid of?” and then they continue by giving reasons that they do not need to be afraid. This is how Jesus encourages us not to be afraid of the dangers we may meet on our Christian journey.
Secondly, this statement can be spoken in a very taunting and demeaning manner. It can be spoken by a big bully who wants to fight someone smaller, and with a taunting voice, says, “What are you afraid of?” Is this not the way that Goliath spoke to the Israelites? Send someone to fight me. What are you afraid of? All the while, knowing that he had a far greater advantage of obtaining the victory in the fight due to his strength and large stature (1 Samuel 17).
This is also how Satan allures many into sin. Young people who attend public schools are constantly around worldly associates and as they get older, they can be tempted into sin. Their associates may be participating in activities that Christ does not approve of and the Christian can be told by their “friends”, “Try it, what are you afraid of?” This often comes in a very taunting tone of voice. Some youth, who are not very strong in their faith, succumb to the taunts of the enemy. They do not want to portray any “fear” in the midst of their peers and thus they pick up the bad habits that Satan tempted them into. They have a fear of not being accepted by their worldly peers, so they give in to the temptation, and this can result in life-long sinful habits that are hard to break later in life. Small decisions like this made through social fear of rejection, can lead to habits that will then form character.
Satan has been successful all throughout the ages in making people lose their reverential fear of God. “As he prevailed on the church to receive favors and honors from the world, under the pretense of receiving benefits, she began to lose favor with God. Shunning to declare the straight truths which shut out the lovers of pleasure and friends of the world, she gradually lost her power.” –Early Writings, p. 226
Ask yourself, what are you really afraid of?
Some people have it all backwards. In the above example, people may fear ridicule or non-acceptance of their peers if they do not participate with them in their non-Christian activities. There are others who are afraid of being late for work, but are not afraid of being late for church. People are afraid of not paying their rent or mortgage, and stress over it, but they are not afraid of withholding tithes and offerings and using it for worldly purposes.
Then there are momentary fears that catch someone off guard and can lead one to deny Jesus, as did Peter at the crucifixion of Jesus. Peter feared ridicule and thus at the spur of the moment did something he may not have done had he taken the time to think it through. Peter repented with bitter tears, and then became a very bold soldier of the cross. Ever mindful of his past failure, he gave this warning, “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15
On the opposite spectrum, we have the example of Balaam who feared losing the treasure offered him and the respect of the heathen king. Initially, he listened to the voice of the Lord and did not go with the king’s servants, but his heart’s longing was for the treasure and respect, so he asked the Lord again. The Lord read his heart and let him go. In this, Balaam knowingly denied Jesus by choosing to go and try to curse Israel knowing full well that they were the people of God. He was not successful in his attempt, but he did not feel remorse for his sin. He did not repent in bitter tears as did Peter. Yet, once he started down that path of departure from the Lord, unrepentant, he continued. He lost his fear of disobeying God. He became more bold in wrongdoing. Although he was unable to curse Israel, he still wanted the king’s favour so he gave advice to King Balak as to the best way to destroy the Israelites. Balaam told the king to send heathen women into the camp to tempt the men to sin against God. He was not afraid to do this. Soon after he lost his life in battle against the armies of Israel with the Moabites. This prophet of God ended up fighting against God and His people. He lost his complete fear of God by taking one step in the wrong direction.
“From the beginning Satan has portrayed to men the gains to be won by transgression. Thus he seduced angels. Thus he tempted Adam and Eve to sin. And thus he is still leading multitudes away from obedience to God. The path of transgression is made to appear desirable; ‘but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ Proverbs 14:12. Happy they who, having ventured in this way, learn how bitter are the fruits of sin, and turn from it betimes.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 720
Who do you fear more? Do you fear man whom you can see, or God whom you cannot see? Unfortunately, many in the world do not fear God because they cannot see Him. Many lukewarm Christians think this way also. They have less fear of displeasing God than they have of displeasing their fellow men.
Then there are sometimes irrational fears; fears that have no solid foundation. These fears are called phobias. What is a phobia?
According to Wikipedia it is defined as: “a type of anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia. It is an extreme fear or dislike of something without a rational reason for the feeling. Most people who suffer from phobias recognize that their fears are not reflective of reality, such as fear of heights or fear of spiders. Some phobias can be crippling, for example, when a person has a social phobia and is fearful of leaving their own house or a fear that others are judging them.
Can there be religions phobias? Yes, there can.
Regarding spiritual phobias, is there any reason for a Christian to be afraid? We have a very powerful enemy, and it is easy to develop a fear of him and his work. If we are troubled by the work of the devil over and over again, can we develop phobias? Is it an irrational fear to be afraid of Satan? Yes, it is because we have a more powerful ally. Satan is much stronger than we are and if we fear him, we are fighting on our own.
Nonetheless, people do have spiritual phobias. One is called “Doomsday Phobia.” These people are very fearful of the end of the world. There was a young woman with two lovely daughters who came to church when I was a child. The mother was convicted of the truth, but she became very fearful of the end times. She was so fearful, it made her sick. She went to the doctor, and the doctor simply told her to go to another church. And sadly, she did. She should have gone on her knees to the Lord in prayer and perhaps counselled with some of the leaders in the church. The world and some false Christian churches are not able to provide true spiritual comfort. Are you afraid when you think of the end time
events of this world? Jesus will be your comfort.
Death-related phobias are extremely common among people of all cultures and religious backgrounds. No matter what your faith, contemplating your own death is generally not a pleasant experience and can cause fear in many people. Again, the Lord’s promise is that He will, “deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:15. The Apostle Paul compared this fear to bondage.
A phobia, a long-term irrational fear that some have is fear of displeasing man while not caring about displeasing God. They fear loss of health, wealth or comfort if they would obey God implicitly.
The true Christian will draw comfort rather than fear, from their religious faith, as it should be. If you are fearful within your faith, there has been a disconnect between you and heaven. The apostle Paul encourages us to “Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
One of the best ways to overcome a phobia is exposure therapy, in which the person is introduced to the situation or object in question until the fear resolves. This is how the Lord works. He may ask a task of you that seems fearful. You may think you have a phobia and you cannot do it, as you have no talent or experience in that task. He may ask you to preach a sermon, teach a lesson, go door-to-door canvassing, speak to a specific person about His love, and so on. His requests may seem impossible for you and the thought seems so fearful at the first request, but as you go forward by faith and complete the task, the Lord gives you strength and the next time the task is easier. The fear (phobia) abates as you are exposed to the task over and over again. You see how the Lord has helped and strengthened you for the task and you then trust that He will continue to do so.
When fear is the basis for our decisions, we allow something besides the Holy Spirit to control us. In overcoming a fear of flying, a believer may choose to say, “I am terrified to get on that plane. But I know that God’s plan for me is to fly to another location, so I would be disobeying Him to let fear rule me.” We may pray throughout the entire flight and close our eyes, but when we choose to obey God, the phobias and fears lose their stranglehold on us.
Satan also uses exposure therapy very well. We all know that sin persistently cherished results in death—eternal death—the second death, but Satan tells you, “try it, you will like the sin.” That is what he told Eve, “Try it, you will like it and you will not die.” At first when you give in to sin, you will feel very guilty for having incurred God’s displeasure. If you give in to the temptation, Satan will come again and tell you to try again; this time you will not feel so bad. In this he is telling the truth, the conscience is being seared. He will come again and again, and each time it becomes less fearful to a person. One day the person begins to enjoy the sin and thinks they cannot live a happy life without it.
The Christian then becomes like the world. “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!” Lamentations 4:1. In the world many have no fear of Satan and the entertainments he offers. When the Christian backslides and becomes like the world, having no fear of sin, it is a frightening situation when you think about it. The Laodicean spirit is pervading the Christian world today and is even creeping into God’s church with unconverted members not being serious about salvation. They do not fear to commit a little sin here or there, and worse still, they feel no remorse. They reassure themselves that God will overlook these minor details. If you have declined into this situation, you should begin to fear and tremble for your salvation. From the first temptation to “Try it”, a Christian must say a firm “No!”
Although a true Christian has reverential fear of God, and fears not the devil and his evil hosts because Jesus dwells in his heart, there are trembling fears that are good for a Christian to have, and these will help them in their spiritual life. The Apostle Paul mentions these types of fears when he says, “Be not highminded, but fear.” Romans 11:20. And also, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. What does he mean? Why fear? Fear and trembling?
While it is a trembling fear, it is a wholesome self-distrust. Paul is not advocating a “slavish terror,” a phobia that enslaves a person and keeps them from doing normal things.
The true Christian should fear that they have disappointed God. Fear that they have not fulfilled His purpose for their lives. Fear of not having their character perfected and ready for heaven. They should fear lest they are not continually surrendered to Christ, or lest the carnal traits of character should control the life.
Another healthy fear is that they will have blood on their garments when Jesus comes. “Let not the blood of souls be found on our garments. Let not precious probationary time be squandered in cherishing pride of heart. Are there no poor to be visited? no dim eyes for whom you can read the word of God? no desponding, discouraged ones that need your words of comfort and your prayers?” –Counsels on Health, p. 602
All should have a fear of sin. “Can we not understand that the most costly thing in the world is sin? It is at the expense of purity of conscience, at the cost of losing the favor of God and separating the soul from Him, and at last losing heaven.” –Faith and Works, p. 17
“God does not bid you fear that He will fail to fulfill His promises, that His patience will weary, or His compassion be found wanting. Fear lest your will shall not be held in subjection to Christ’s will, lest your hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control your life. ‘It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Fear lest self shall interpose between your soul and the great Master Worker. Fear lest self-will shall mar the high purpose that through you God desires to accomplish. Fear to trust to your own strength, fear to withdraw your hand from the hand of Christ and attempt to walk life’s pathway without His abiding presence.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 161
Such fear leads to vigilance against temptations, to humility of mind and to taking heed lest we fall. It can only be done by a life hid in Christ.
Even in matters of our secular life, the Lord expects a complete surrender and a healthy fear of failure. “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.” Ephesians 6:5. Do your work on earth as if God was your immediate boss. And, if you think about it, in reality, He is. Work with this thought in your mind. Paul encourages faithfulness in every duty of life. Great care and earnestness should be used in every responsibility that is given to us.
The apostle Paul had learned that he is weak, but God is his source of strength. “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.“ 1 Corinthians 2:3. Why? “The apostle feared lest his work should stand in the wisdom of men and not in the power of God, and thus his labor prove to be a work which would not produce a harvest.” –The Voice in Speech and Song, p. 323
None of us can successfully do the work of the Lord if one little element of self is involved. Paul was conscious of his shortcomings and infirmities. He was anxious about the success of his mission in Corinth, for he knew that he had many enemies in the city. The apostle was also concerned lest his work be marked by merely human characteristics. Paul’s fear was that the work of God would be hindered whether by external enemies, or by his own weaknesses. He had one focus in life and that was to see the work of God prosper. However, God had assured him that his work would be successful and that he had nothing to fear. Every true believer in God will ever be conscious of his own limitations and weaknesses. Such an attitude leads him to place a greater reliance upon God for strength and wisdom to do His work. “Our greatest strength is realized when we feel and acknowledge our weakness.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 70
All throughout his life, and it is reflected in his writings, we see that Paul’s number one fear was seeing the cause of God suffer. “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” 2 Corinthians 7:5. There were many struggles and sometimes he had concerns and uncertainty as to how things would work out. This does not mean that Paul suffered abject fear. He had learned to trust in Jesus. He showed complete trust through all his trials, but he was still human and had emotions of uncertainty at times.
After his denial, Peter showed great faith. He no longer feared man. He had learned the fear (reverence) of the Lord. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” 1 Peter 1:17
Today we live in a very fearful time. Many in the world are petrified of the pandemic. Is this fear irrational? As Christians, do we have any reason to fear? No, we do not. We do our part and trust in God. This is one of the signs of the times which tell us that the coming of Christ is near at hand. While it is sad to see so many sick and suffering, we can rejoice that the day of the Lord is near. We can share the good news with those who are sick that Jesus will come soon and put an end to suffering. The Lord can use our courage to strengthen those that fear around us.
The perfect solution to any trembling fear is love. In comforting the faithful Christians, Paul stated, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear.” Romans 8:15. And John took it a step further when he stated, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. “ 1 John 4:18
When the task seems insurmountable and you fear failure, the Lord will encourage you as He did Zerubbabel when they were rebuilding Jerusalem. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. We can choose to cast our care upon Jesus and not let the fears and phobias of this world dictate the choices we make.
In reading Joshua 1:1–9, God commands Joshua to take charge of the leadership of Israel. Three times in that short passage, God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous, for I am with you.” If he had no fear and courage came naturally to Joshua, God would not have had to tell him three times to fear not. Likely, Joshua was experiencing some overwhelming fears and felt inadequate for the task before him. Who wouldn’t? God did not scold him; God empowered him. And He will do the same for any of His children who are overcome with fears and phobias because the God who strengthened Joshua is the God who will strengthen us.
Are fears and phobias a sign of sin? The answer is, not always. The reality is that many times Christians with fears and phobias struggle with feeling that they are disappointing God because of their fear. Other well-meaning Christians can make this worse by over-simplifying the solution: “Just trust the Lord!” they say, and then go on their merry way, believing they have resolved a complex problem with this simple cliché. Even though this is true, it may not the best way to handle the situation. There is more to it.
It is true that throughout Scripture we are told to, “Fear not,” and this comes to us as a loving mother comforting her child who has awakened in the night from a bad dream. “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4. Here Jesus promised to save us from what? From trouble? From torment? From natural disasters? From the hand of evil men? No, He promised to save us from our fears, whatever they may be. He has not promised a life free of trials, but when those trials create fear in us, He promises to walk with us and deliver us from those fears. “When trouble comes, instead of getting out of patience, instead of fretting and worrying, go to the Lord, and tell Him all about it.” –The Upward Look, p. 359
And that trembling fear will turn into a reverential fear as the angels come and assist us. “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7
“There are good and evil angels. Satan is ever on the alert to deceive and mislead. He is using every enchantment to allure men into the broad road of disobedience. He is working to confuse the senses with erroneous sentiments, and remove the landmarks by placing his false inscription on the signposts which God has established to point the right way. It is because these evil agencies are striving to eclipse every ray of light from the soul that heavenly beings are appointed to do their work of ministry, to guide, guard, and control those who shall be heirs of salvation. None need despair because of the inherited tendencies to evil, but when the Spirit of God convicts of sin, the wrongdoer must repent and confess and forsake the evil. Faithful sentinels are on guard to direct souls in right paths.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1120
“To know one’s self is great knowledge. True self-knowledge will lead to a humility that will allow the Lord to train the mind, and mold and discipline the character. The grace of humility is greatly needed by the workers for Christ in this period of the world’s history.” –Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 525
I ask again, what are you afraid of? Are you afraid of the task that the Lord places before you? Are you afraid of what others may think of you? Are you afraid of being late for work, but not afraid of being late to church?
Search your own heart. May you have a genuine fear of walking alone—of thinking yourself self-sufficient, that you are ok. We are all sinners in need of Christ and we should fear to let go of His hand and walk alone. The fear of the Lord is not irrational. It is not a phobia that will force us into obedience because we fear death. It is a love relationship that we have with One who created and redeemed us.
May God help us to develop healthy fears which will lead us to Christ, and surrender our unfounded fears to Him. He will take care of them. He will fill you with His perfect love that will cast out every irrational fear.
Wendy Eaton