Release the Fear

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

When we read Paul’s letters, we see a man who is in absolutely no doubt about his identity: A Roman citizen and Jew by birth; a former Pharisee by profession and persecutor of The Way; a man blinded by religion, who had his eyes opened by God; saved, baptised and appointed as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul knew the traps that were set in this life. He knew that suffering was real and perseverance was needed. But he was also aware of the power of the Holy Spirit, in whom our eternal assurance is promised. Paul weaves the teachings of assurance throughout his letters, giving hope in place of fear.

When fear grips us, it can be hard to release ourselves from its grasp. It takes hold of the mind and has the potential to make us feel physically ill. Fear is a horrible experience and it can be completely debilitating, restricting us from living in the peace of God.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear…

The Spirit that God has given us is not one that holds us captive, but one that releases us into His power. He takes our weaknesses – those things that tell us we’re not good enough or not smart enough – and replaces it with His strength, which is always enough. When we are driven to achieve the approval of others through fear of what people think of us, the Spirit draws us back to the perfect love of God. A love that casts out fear and allows us to live in confident assurance of who we are in Christ.

Power, strength, love, self-control, a sound mind – these are not things that we have to find for ourselves – they are gifts of grace that we receive from our Father.

If you are carrying any kind of fear today, set it down before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to take it and replace it with His love and power.