Can You Still Trust God?: What Happens When You Choose to Believe by Charles F. Stanley

Author:Charles F. Stanley [Stanley, Charles F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Christian Living, Inspirational, Personal Growth, Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 9780785247531
Google: OQzrzQEACAAJ
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Incorporated
Published: 2021-03-16T00:13:31.562522+00:00

TEN

OVERCOMING FEAR

Many people think the opposite of fear is hope, or courage, or strength. The true opposite of fear is faith. And when fear causes paralysis, it not only quenches one’s peace but it attacks the foundation of that peace—namely, our faith. Peace goes out the window when fear is present. In many polls taken since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence shows that large segments of our population are living in fear—fear of leaving home, of traveling, of impending doom, of strangers, etc. The other side of the coin is, of course, the majority of these fearful people are not experiencing peace—the calmness of soul, the elimination of anxieties, and the serenity necessary to conduct one’s normal affairs in a steady, fear-free manner.

Much of fear is rooted in doubt that God will be present, provide justice or help, or be capable of dealing with the crisis at hand. Faith says, “Yes, God is here. Yes, God will provide. Yes, God is capable of all things!”

Much of fear is rooted in threats—sometimes threatening words, sometimes threatening behavior. Faith says, “I will not be traumatized by threats. I will act wisely, not fearfully. I believe God will prevent whatever the threat is from ever coming to pass. And if the threat does come to pass, I believe God will help me deal with whatever is thrown at me.”

When Saul, king of Israel, realized that God had taken His hand of anointing and blessing from him because of his arrogance and disobedience, and had placed it upon the young man David, he was furious. He began a campaign to find David and kill him—to remove this threat from his life. On the other hand, David felt threatened by Saul’s army and on several occasions feared for his life, but the Scriptures tell us that David was strengthened by God’s promises to protect him and one day make him king of Israel.

In our modern world we often read of people who, in spite of intimidation by disease, accident, or danger, pressed ahead to uncertain outcomes—rejection, defeat, and, yes, sometimes victory. Arctic explorers, Olympic athletes, missionaries, venture capitalists, and philanthropists come to mind. So threats do not have to stymie and cripple us.

Some years ago, I felt threatened by the potential backlash that could occur when I announced that my wife was seeking a divorce. In many churches, for the pastor’s marriage to be in trouble is tantamount to his being identified as a moral failure. I had great inner concerns when the announcement was made.

When I told the board of my church, they responded by saying, in essence, “You’ve been here for us during difficult times. Now we’re going to be here for you during this difficult time. You’ve been here for us when we needed you, and now we’re going to be here for you because you need us.”

I felt great encouragement when various board members told me that they knew the kind of man I am. They knew my character and my devotion to the Lord.

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