Fear vs. Peace. By Janet Henman.
Fear is a stronghold! So, what is a stronghold?
In simple terms, strongholds are thoughts, arguments, and reasonings. We could call them “fiery darts of the enemy” (Ephesians 6:16), that the devil uses to bring confusion and either tries to complicate, hinder or even destroy our faith and trust in God and all that He declares He is and has promised.
What is fear? Two kinds of fear exist—healthy and unhealthy.
The first is God-given and helps protect you. The second, the spirit of fear, is from Satan and is designed to keep you in bondage.
This is what Paul is talking about when he says:
“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Just as God sends His angels to minister to us, the devil also sends his fallen angels as demons. What God sends you offers life; what the devil sends offers death.
Someone once shared with me an acrostic of what “fear” is = False Evidence Appearing Real. It’s a feeling and when we choose to let it rule over us, it gets bigger and bigger in our thoughts and actions.
In Psalms 37:1 God commands us to not fret or fear. Isaiah 43:1 says
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
I lived in fear for many years because of things I had done in my past; I always feared what others would think of me, I feared rejection!
Until I became a Christian, I battled with this and my identity became one of low self-worth and feeling unloved. As I grew in my walk with the Lord and began to know who He was and who I was in Him, He changed me! I had to make a choice to receive His grace and forgiveness and then I was set free from the stronghold of fear. I had to replace my fear with His peace and love!
So, what does Peace mean in the Bible?
Peace or ‘Shalom’ in Hebrew means “completeness, soundness, welfare or contentment.”
Jesus tells us in John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” God gave me His peace to overcome my fear!
I had to exchange the lies of fear for the truth of His peace. Psalms 55:22 says
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He never lets the righteous fall.”
1 Peter 5:7 says
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
I had to choose God’s word to saturate my thoughts and my spirit. I was protected from fear by His word and the enemy could not snatch me out of His hands. (John 10:38)
Here are 5 scriptures for you to not only find a home in your heart, but to speak boldly and use them to saturate your thoughts and spirit to overcome fear and find God’s peace.
- I will keep my mind on Christ- Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
- The Lord will give me strength- Isaiah41:10” Do not fear, for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you, surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- God will not fail me- Deuteronomy 32:6” Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God is goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- God is my Salvation- Isaiah 12:2” Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”
- God is on my side- Psalm 118:6” The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Because of the strongholds God has broken in my life, He has given me many opportunities to share my testimony about how God has taken “My Messes and made them His Message”. My life verse is from John 8:32
“If you know the truth, the truth will set you free.”
He knows what tomorrow holds and His plans for you are for good and His glory!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
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