DFJ Ministries

Having FAITH over Your FEARS

Fear isn’t something new we are dealing with in our lifetime. We can trace fear all the way back to the very beginning, when the evil one tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. By the enemy’s sly request of questioning God’s truth, fear was ignited in Eve’s heart, and she took the bite of fruit, believing the devil was right. Fear is sneaky, quick, and sometimes debilitating.

Looking at different aspects of my life I saw fear creeping up and my faith was being questioned. I can remember a time where I felt like life had dealt me a bad hand and I didn’t have the strength to pull on my faith. I couldn’t seem to shake it until that still small voice reminded me to just have faith as the size of a mustard seed and lean not on my own understanding but lean on God. I had to lean on the hope I had, and I pray that you have in God’s word because His word gives us everything, we need to fight against the fears that seem to come at us at the most inconvenient times.

We do not have to live with anxious thoughts, heart-pumping doubts, and mind-racing possibilities. We can live at peace with ourselves and with God, but we have to practice using our faith muscle. It does not mean we try to do better than bad or try to check every box of our “HOLY” checklists in hopes that we out-do someone less holy than us. It means we turn to God’s Word over and over again and we receive the truth and the promises He gives us when fear threatens to take us down.

Faith over fear is a decision we make before the struggles hit. It’s seeking the Lord knowing He hears and trusting Him knowing He will deliver and help. Sometimes we forget He helps. We forget He is the deliverer. So we wrestle with trying to figure everything out on our own. All along God is waiting and ready to hear our cry and our prayer.

Sometimes we face the hardest, the darkest, and the scariest of all trials. It might look like a sudden tragedy, a diagnosis we never imagined, or a family crisis we didn’t see coming (broken marriages, wayward child, etc.). But even in the darkest of times, God is able to guard and carry us through it. When we feel like God is absent or like He doesn’t seem to care, we can rest in the truth that even then, even in the dark, even in the shadow of death – God is there. He is near. Reach out and take hold of His mighty hand. He’s not so far that we can’t feel or sense Him. He is there in the middle of the darkest night comforting us.

Just like a child needs a hand to hold to cross the street, God reaches out His hand to help us cross the difficult paths of our lives. Not only that, there is a sweet reminder that He speaks to us with reassuring words as we go. He isn’t silent with lips closed tightly, never giving His advice or wisdom. He gives that common command, “Fear not.” And it is followed by the beautiful promise, “I will help you.” Fear isn’t something that is going away anytime soon. It’s a battle we will face each day as we go through this life, but it is a battle we can win with God.

So, I challenge you as I challenge myself to hold tight to the promises God offers in His Word. It might look like putting the words of one of these verses in plain sight to see throughout the day, or taking a few minutes alone to dwell on and meditate on one of the promises you know about who God is and what He can do. It might mean you memorize one of these verses to hold tightly in your heart in the moment fear grips you. Here they are:
1. Deuteronomy 3:22- “You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.”
2. Deuteronomy 31:6- “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
3. Psalm 34:4- “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
4. Psalm 56:3- “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you.”

No matter what we go through, God is able to help us through. Choosing faith over fear isn’t about doing more to overcome, it’s about believing God to help us overcome. Faith is knowing God can, believing God can, and walking through each day reminding ourselves of the truth that God knows and sees the bigger picture. Fear not. God is with you.

Genuinely Loving You ALL!

Today as I was ending my day at work, I began to think how difficult things and situations have been and through all of it I am still here. Not because of my own, not because of someone else but because I rely on a promising God, an unwavering God, a forgiving God, a God that understands me and would NEVER leave me or forsake me. How many have been or are in a season of difficult dynamics that seem to invade or disrupt your peace, your life?

In life, we often face tough situations that push us to our limits. Whether it's financial struggles, health issues, or relationship problems, these challenges can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. However, as Christians, we have a powerful source of strength and hope: our faith in God.

When we trust in God's promises, we can find comfort and courage even in the midst of adversity. Knowing that God is with us and will carry us through whatever comes our way can give us the strength to face any challenge with confidence.

In the Bible, we can find a lot of examples of people who relied on God during difficult times and found the strength to persevere. One example is found in Isaiah 41:10, where God says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." This verse reminds us that God is always by our side, ready to strengthen and support us in our time of need.

Another powerful verse that speaks to God's faithfulness in tough times is found in Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." This passage reassures us that no matter how chaotic or uncertain our circumstances may seem, God is our constant refuge and source of strength.

As Christians, we’ve got to take comfort in the knowledge that we are never alone in our struggles. God promises to walk beside us, carrying us through every trial and tribulation we face. So, when life throws challenges our way, instead of giving in to fear or despair, let us hold fast to our faith and trust that God will always be there to guide us and sustain us. With His help, we can overcome any obstacle and emerge stronger on the other side.

So, this afternoon let us remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." So know that we can take comfort in knowing that no matter what struggles we may encounter, we have victory through Him who has overcome the world.

So let us lift our heads high, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. With His strength and guidance, we can face whatever challenges come our way, confident that He will carry us through to victory.

Genuinely Loving you ALL!