The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 12
Fear Has Torment!
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
– 1 John 4:18
Reminiscing on my life’s journey I have identified several situations in which I was afraid. Fear had become my master as I was a slave to fear. I was afraid of failing; I was afraid of being rejected; I was afraid of the dark; I was afraid of heights; I was afraid of creeping things and some animals; I was afraid of gaining weight; I was afraid of flying; I was afraid of being in constricted, confined spaces; I was afraid of driving a car; I was afraid of the sea; I was afraid of men; I was afraid of being ill; I was afraid of travelling on public transportation; I was afraid of being in public (social) places; I was afraid of the sound of ambulance’s sirens; I was afraid that my mother will die; and I was afraid of developing meaningful relationships with others. Therefore, I avoided being in those situations and isolated myself. I can definitely concur with Job that “… the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25) because I have experienced it over and over and over again.
While the aforementioned list of fears that I have experienced may seem unbelievable, for me they were real. However, some of them are not just a casual fear. Psychologists have identified most of them as a phobia, which is a kind of anxiety disorder that causes an individual to encounter extreme, irrational fear about a situation, living creature, place, or object. A person who experiences a phobia often shapes his/her life to evade whatever he/she deems to be dangerous. His/her mind is perpetually thinking about the apparent dangers and this causes him/her to be anxious. This is because our thoughts influence our feelings and our feelings our behaviours.
Having such fear is one of the most horrifying encounters in one’s life. It causes the following experiences: a sensation of uncontrollable anxiety when exposed to the source of fear; a feeling that the source of that fear must be avoided at all costs; not being able to function properly when exposed to the trigger; acknowledgment that the fear is irrational, unreasonable, and exaggerated, combined with an inability to control the feelings.
Furthermore, the feelings of panic and intense anxiety that result from being exposed to the object of his/her phobia produce the following physical effects of these sensations: sweating, abnormal breathing, accelerated heartbeat, trembling, hot flushes or chills, a choking sensation, chest pains or tightness, butterflies in the stomach, pins and needles, dry mouth, confusion and disorientation, nausea, dizziness, headache, and (in my personal case) diarrhoea.
Can anyone tell me that this is not torment? This describes torment to me! As a matter of fact, I can speak from my personal experiences. I was tormented day and night by fear. John states in 1 John 4:18 that “… fear hath torment…”
Fear is a spirit that plagues one’s life and causes that person to become so incapacitated spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and often times, physically. Fear hinders one’s relationship with God and others.
Have you ever wondered what the source of fear is? Where does fear come from? In yesterday’s devotion you were reminded by Paul states in 2 Timothy 1:7 that “… God hath not given you the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
Since God did not give you the spirit of fear, where did it come from? Fear comes from the enemy of your soul whose only goal is to steal, kill and destroy your life (John 10:10). Therefore, because you know now that fear is not from God but from Satan, you can reject it every time it tries to creep up on you so that you can enjoy the abundant life that Jesus has come that you might have (John 10:10). A life of torment is not an abundant life.
I encourage you today to fear not, God loves you!
Have a blessed day!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father I worship and praise You for only You deserve my worship. Thank You for Your perfect love for me. I declare today that I am made perfect in love and Your perfect love cast away all fears. Therefore, I am as bold as a lion. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
