Fear Not!

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

 

2 Timothy 1:7

A well known story we have heard from a child is that of David and Goliath. Goliath's formidable size and arrogant boasting intimidated Saul and Israel's army. And because God's anointing had fallen from Saul, he was unable to respond with power to Goliath's charge.

 

In Greek the word power is dunamis for which we get the term dynamic and dynamite. It also carries the connotation of effective, productive energy, rather than that which is raw and unbridled. God provides us with His power in order for us to be effective in His service.

 

Fear paralyzes and keeps us from fully serving God.

So, now the anointing had fallen on David, who was just a young boy, but full of power in spirit. David did not cower at the size or shouts of the giant Goliath. He saw Goliath through the eyes of God, who saw him as a mere speck. David had righteous indignation for an affront to the armies of the living God.

David did not weigh the risk of failure because his faith was resting totally in God.

 

This is another important factor in overcoming fear—complete trust in God. Do not fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God. It must also be noted that God has provided everything we need for everyday faithful living and service when we first believed.

 

It is of utmost importance to understand though, that God does not provide His power for us to misappropriate for our own purposes. He provides His power for us to accomplish His purposes through us. When our trust is only in Him, and our desire is only to serve Him, He is both willing and "able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).