Dear LifeSpring Family,
We all experience fear in our lives, and in fact, we should. Healthy fear is what keeps us out of danger and alive. However, there is a profound difference between healthy and unhealthy fear—between good fear and bad fear.
In Romans 8:15–17 (ESV), scripture reminds us:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Paul states clearly that we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. The fear he refers to here is the unhealthy, destructive kind. This is the fear that acts as an enemy to your faith. It is a fear that whispers the exact opposite of God’s commandments and promises, asking: Is Abba Father even worthy of your trust?
When that happens, may I suggest using your fear as a catalyst to turn around and run straight into the loving arms of Abba Father. He is standing right there, waiting to embrace you with His unconditional love and acceptance.
Our heavenly Father is always for us and never against us. Sometimes, we are simply the ones who choose to take our eyes off Him and turn our backs. Let us choose to fear the Lord, rather than living in fear of fear itself.
Grace upon Grace,
Jerry