Fear is a Lie.

If you’re anything like me, you are no stranger to fear. It accompanies big changes, decisions and unknowns. The “What If’s” can sometimes be too many to count.

There are dozens of verses throughout the Bible that tell us not to fear. But just hearing, “Don’t be afraid” doesn’t make fear any less real. It wasn’t until I realized why I shouldn’t be afraid that my fears began to disintegrate.

When we fear something and analyze all of the “What If’s” that could happen, we aren’t seeing the whole picture. Anytime I fear something, I am imagining a potential circumstance that is absent of God. His presence is not included in my “What If” scenario.

Fear is taking God out of the equation in a possible circumstance.

Fear is a lie. Because God will always be in every situation, any “What If” that I am fearing will never actually happen. That doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen. But God will always be there, walking with me through whatever comes my way.

Psalm 23 is a beautiful passage. After reading it and soaking in the truths of God in it, my fears tend to fall by the wayside.

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

Isn’t God good?! This Psalm has so many beautiful truths about God that show us why we shouldn’t be afraid. It says that the Lord is our Shepherd. He leads us. He restores us. He is with us. He comforts us. He anoints us.

God is with us. This truth alone should give us reason enough to not be afraid!

So what are you afraid of? What are those “What If’s” you are tossing around?

It could be a big move, a job change, losing a relationship, disappointing someone, failing at something you’ve put a lot of effort into, losing a job, getting sick…the possibilities are endless!

But those things listed above are lies.

I’m not saying that they won’t happen. Any one of those could happen to anybody. But it is not the whole picture. Instead of just focusing on the “What if”, remember God in the equation.

What if you have a big move coming? But God is with you, and is already in that new place as well.

What if you have a job change? But God will go with you, and has a plan for you in this new job.

What if you lose a relationship? But God will never leave you.

What if you disappoint someone? But God already sees all that you are, and is not disappointed. He embraces you despite your shortcomings through Christ.

What if you fail at something? But God doesn’t expect perfection from you. Christ was perfection for you, so that you can have a relationship with God.

Any “What If” you are afraid of can be destroyed when you place “But God” after it. Instead of analyzing all the things that could go wrong, focus on the truth that God will always be with you, and is in control.

Fear is a lie.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26