Wise Practices: How Overcome Fear and Walk by Faith

Our current letter series “Wise Practices” aims to share practical knowledge and wisdom to help us grow as doers of the word. Each letter will share applied methods and answer a ‘how.’ These practices are not perfect or comprehensive. They are personal testimonies; shared knowledge and wisdom gained through pursuit and service that helped facilitate growth in our lives. We pray they help you grow as well.

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We live in a world that has been corrupted by sin and is therefore in opposition toward God and His truth. As followers of Christ, we too experience the resistance of this world to the Biblical principles we seek to live by. This resistance from the world can create tension within our lives. This world has many hardships and trials because of the fall of man – sickness, pain, disappointments, and death. These too add to our troubles from time to time.

But God says in His Word that we can overcome this world through faith. (1 John 4:4, and 5:4-5) Over and again through Scripture we are admonished not to be anxious (Phil. 4:4-8), not to be afraid (Isaiah 41:10), and not to worry (Matt. 6:25-34). Rather we are instructed to walk by faith and to cast our cares upon Him knowing He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Here are some principles I have applied to my life that have helped me to put my trust in the Lord and to walk in a peace beyond human comprehension. I hope these will be helpful to you as well.

We are Fearful Human Beings:

• The word worry in the Greek means to choke, to constrict, or to strangle. It is no wonder that people who worry sometimes have panic attacks and on occasion find it hard to breathe. Worry can strangle you physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.
• The word anxiety in the Greek means to be torn asunder. Anxiety is the inner conflict we experience when we wrestle with two common, but opposing human emotions – hope and fear. We hope one thing will happen, but are afraid that something else will occur.
• Fear therefore is the catalyst for worry and anxiety. Yet we are admonished not to walk in fear.

– Be Strong and Courageous – when Joshua was getting ready to enter into the land of Canaan, God did not promise him a cakewalk. No, rather He commands Joshua three times in chapter one to be strong and courageous – to put his trust in the Lord.
– God then admonishes Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

We are Not to Allow Our Emotions to Rule Over us:

• Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that our hearts are deceitful above all things and are desperately wicked because of the indwelling power of sin. Therefore, we cannot trust our hearts to lead us well.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in all our ways knowing that He will direct our path.
• Emotions can be a sweet servant, but a cruel master. They must be kept in subjection to God’s Word.

We are to Walk by Faith, Not by Sight:

• We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
• Think about that for a moment. Are there things we can do apart from faith? Certainly!
  – You can get married without faith, buy a house without faith, and raise a family without faith. I wouldn’t recommend any of that to you, but people do it all the time. However, God’s Word says there is one thing that is impossible to do apart from faith – we cannot please God!
• Obviously, God places a premium on His children learning to walk by faith.
• We are told in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance of things hoped for.
  – Faith is not wishful thinking. Our faith is based upon the confidence of our conviction that God is real, and real near to us.
  – As we have come to Christ by faith, we are also to walk by faith (Col. 2:6). Being rooted and built up in Him and established in our faith, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
• We are also told that faith is the evidence of things not seen. It is a present assurance of a future reality. True faith is not based on empirical evidence but on divine assurance, and is a gift of God.
• It is our faith in God that enables us to overcome our fears.

We Overcome Fear through Practical Application of God’s Word.

James 1:25-27 gives us some insight into this truth.

• First, we must lay aside all forms of sin in repentance and surrender to Christ. Sin in our lives often impedes our spiritual hearing.
• Second, we must receive with humility the Word implanted into our hearts through regeneration. We are not to sit in judgment of the Word, but allow the Word to judge us.
• Third, we are to become doers of the Word and not hearers only who deceive themselves. This simply means that we are to put into practice the principles of God’s Word as we learn them.
• Fourth, we are to recognize that the one who looks into the perfect (sufficient, inerrant, and comprehensive) law of liberty, and continues in it, is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work who is blessed in what he does.

A Practical Suggestion:

Begin to engage in memorizing key verses and passages encouraging you to put your trust in God.

The prophet Jeremiah said,
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

King David said,
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word… Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9,11)

The prophet Isaiah said,
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed (focused) on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philip. 4:6-8)

• Don’t worry about anything.
• Pray about everything.
• Thank God for all things.
• Dwell on that which is worthy of praise.

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