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Proverbs 29:25 provides a simple, yet profound illustration of fear that many believers know from experience: a perilous snare that is easy to fall into, torturous to be in, and difficult to escape. This metaphor serves fear well, for its detrimental effects on our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing place it among the most lethal tools in Satan's arsenal. Thankfully, because God desires far better for His children--lives of faith, obedience, and victory, He provides in His Word the truths necessary to overcome our struggles with fear.
First, escaping its snare starts by understanding its source. The Scriptures reveal that fear comes from an absence of faith in God, as shown in multiple verses mentioning the two. For example, Paul commands us in Philippians 4:6 to trust God and His perfect providence for our needs instead of worrying about them. Similarly, Jesus in Matthew 6:25-33 calls us to trade our anxiousness about the details of this life for faith in our heavenly Father, who flawlessly meets the individual needs of every plant and animal. Furthermore, Psalm 118:6 notes how our omnipotent God promises to protect us, making it unnecessary to fear what others can do to us. In addition, 1 Peter 3:14 calls us not to fear the trials of this temporary life, for multiple verses note how God provides personal blessings (Rom. 5:3-4) and heavenly rewards (2 Cor. 4:17) through them. Finally, Matthew 6:34 instructs us not to worry about the future, for Deuteronomy 31:8 notes how our trust should be in our omniscient God who knows all things and will never forsake us. As these verses clearly explain, responding to any situation without trusting God makes us vulnerable to fear's dreadful snare.
Moreover, understanding fear's consequences further highlights the importance of overcoming it. For example, its dismantling of our faith can rob us of countless blessings and opportunities. A notable example of this is in Numbers 13-14, where an entire generation of Israelites (save Joshua and Caleb) were denied entrance into the Promise Land because they feared its inhabitants, despite God promising victory if they obeyed. Also, fear-driven reactions can cause us and others to suffer significant consequences. This was demonstrated in Genesis 20, where Abraham lied about Sarah's relationship with him, which led to him sinning, Abimelech taking Sarah, God threatening to judge him, and Abraham's deception being exposed. Furthermore, fear can cause us to disobey God and damage our relationship with Him. Jesus illustrated this with a parable in Matthew 25:14-30, where a lazy servant defied and displeased his master by burying his talents due to fear. Finally, fear can spiritually paralyze us, rendering us unable to serve God. Judges 7:3 demonstrates this, where 22,000 soldiers, despite God's promise of deliverance, feared their enemies and were thus sent home. Understanding the unfathomable spiritual damage these consequences can wrought upon our lives should encourage us to strive for victory over fear's snare.
Fortunately, the Scriptures clearly explain how to overcome it. For example, continually increasing our faith in God is necessary. Following David's example in Psalm 34:4, we do this by building the habit of seeking God first when afraid, which allows Him to deliver us from our fears. Also, we must surrender our cares, worries, and anxieties to Him. This is done by casting them into His care, as 1 Peter 5:7 notes, which is made easier when we dwell upon His perfect providence and omnipotence. In addition, we must daily receive Christ's perfect love. As 1 John 4:18 notes how fear is cast out by His love, growing in it will cause us to love Him more than ourselves, enabling us to live the fearless, self-sacrificial lifestyle that prioritizes obeying Him over yielding to fear's self-defensiveness. Finally, frequent prayer is mandatory for following the aforementioned steps. Beyond this, prayerfully responding to our anxieties allows us to receive the Father's perfect peace, as Philippians 4:6-7 notes. Thus, by daily obeying these verses, we will live the life of faith, surrender, love, and prayer that allows God to give us eternal victory over our fears.
Although the destructive snare of fear drives us away from God and may seem inescapable, the Scriptures graciously reveal that our loving heavenly Father has not abandoned those who fall into this perilous trap. Instead, He provides the sole means of escape by revealing fear's sources and consequences, as well as empowering us to live the surrendered lifestyle of faith, prayer, and love that conquers all anxieties and worries. By daily using this knowledge and obediently choosing this lifestyle, God provides the strength, courage, and self-control necessary for us to trade our fears for His best for us.
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