Day 27 | Living Free From Fear – Lauren
Valleys can be scary and intimidating. When walking through the darkness of metaphorical valleys in our lives, it may feel like we won’t survive. But we do not have to fear the shadow of death or evil itself because our Shepherd has conquered both and is guiding us through whatever valley we find ourselves in.
There is a valley of depression. There is a valley of grief. There is a valley of rejection, loneliness, heartbreak, divorce and illness. There is a valley of stress, a valley of uncertainty, a valley of infertility, a valley of financial hardship, a valley of exhaustion, a valley of waiting and a valley of failure. Each of these valleys fosters fear and we long for comfort.1
In times of hardship, darkness, and loss, fear can be all-consuming. We can spend our days worrying about the “what-ifs” and wasting time in the regret of the “if-onlys”. It’s normal to focus on the shadows of a situation, the sad, and the sin at work all around us. This is a natural response. It’s difficult to lift our eyes off our feet and look to the One who can free us from our fear. Fear focuses on the shadows while faith focuses on the Shepherd. Shifting our focus requires a supernatural response.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t muster up much faith on my own. In my flesh, I am more often full of fear than faith. However, I have learned that I can ask God for help—for Him to do something in me that I cannot do on my own.
When I’m stuck in a valley, I often find myself repeating the prayer of a father in the Bible who was desiring for Jesus to rescue his son from the valley of demon-possession. When asked if he believed that Jesus could restore his son’s mental health, the man desperately cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” –Mark 9:24
Jesus didn’t admonish the man for not having a mountain of faith in that moment. In fact, He didn’t criticize his own disciples either when their faith was miniscule like a mustard seed. Instead, He gave them a solution—asking God for more.
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” –Luke 17:5
The apostle Paul gives us another avenue for increasing our faith when we are struggling with fear—spending time in God’s Word.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” –Romans 10:17
As one theologian puts it, “We hear His Word. We read His Word. God’s Word produces faith.” 2
Prayer is a spiritual weapon against fear and so is reading the Bible. Deciding to change our thought patterns is another way to keep fear from taking over.
The word “will” in Psalm 23:4, “I will fear no evil,” implies that we can choose to avoid runaway thoughts and hand them over to the Holy Spirit who can help us to switch gears and choose faith instead. The Apostle Paul puts it this way,
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” –2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Spiritual battles are fought with spiritual weapons and the shield of faith can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
Our greatest spiritual weapon is the Holy Spirit who can help us practice what the apostle Paul instructs us,“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ... And the God of peace will be with you.”
–Philippians 4:8
The comforting part of this verse is that it is a conditional promise—a when-then statement. When we focus on the good gifts that God has given us, then we experience God’s presence that brings peace. The Holy Spirit shepherds our hearts and minds to the security we need when we walk through valleys that cause us to fear.
REFLECT
1. What valley do I find myself in right now?
2. How can I make time to pray for faith, seek God in His Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to help me take my thoughts captive?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I walk through a dark valley, I am prone to fear. In those moments, strengthen my faith and give me belief and trust in you even in my unbelief. Help me to hold onto Your Word, knowing that faith comes from hearing your Truth. Teach me to guard my mind against fear by taking every errant thought captive and focusing on your goodness instead. Through the power of your Spirit, help me stand firm in every battle and walk in victory each day knowing that because you have overcome, I can too. In Jesus’ name, amen.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Take a few moments to journal about the “Four D’s”: Drain, Delight, Discovery and Determination. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the source of your fear—or the “drain” in your life—what’s disturbing you? Spend some time focusing on “delight”—what is sparking joy for you? Where is the Holy Spirit bringing “discovery” or light to your path in the darkness? Then transition to making a “determination”—how can you move forward through the valley?