4 Ways Fear Influences Us and Solutions for Peaceful Thoughts

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We have all faced fear at some time in our lives. The violence affecting our world today can instill apprehension if we allow these images to take precedence over our thoughts.

If we give in, anxiety can deter us from success in our lives and can cause physical health problems.

Here are 4 ways fear influences us:

1. Fear paralyzes and disrupts decision making. When we are not thinking clearly, we grasp at whatever sounds good now and we may act impulsively.

2. Fear divides. Political climates, social media, and news reports all contain various opinions. Escalated emotions can lead to fights and violence either physically or verbally.  

3. Fear overrides hope. When we look at circumstances through the lens of discouragement, we see no resolution to the problem.

4. Fear defeats success. When dread is the prominent thought, there is no room for productivity or creativity. With no hope for the future there is no motivation for growth.

God tells us time after time in His Word to fear not. Of course, He knows the frailty of our humanity, and He knew we would face situations that cause alarm. That’s why He gave us His Word as our weapon to combat fear.

King David faced hopeless situations more than once. When he and his men experienced the loss of their families, David’s response was to encourage himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

Another psalmist wrote, Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 43:6 NKJV)

We can learn from David’s example and encourage ourselves in the Lord by following these solutions for peaceful thoughts:

• Prayer – stay in fellowship with God. Not just to ask Him to take away the afflicting thing, but to fellowship with Him in praise and thanksgiving for who He is—the Almighty, the Omniscient, the King of the universe.
• Provision of God – He provides for our needs when we trust Him to do so. We shouldn’t panic when prices soar, or supply chains are slow or empty for a time (Philippians 4:19).
• Protection of God – He gives us His angels to guard and protect us (Psalm 91).
• Power of God – He is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think if we depend on the power that dwells within us (Ephesians 3:20).
• Promises of God –God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Living in anxiety and worry will not make any problem go away. Trusting the Lord means walking with Him and depending upon Him for answers. (click to share on X)

As we learn to live in Christ’s purpose for our lives, we will be able to resist the devil’s tactics more easily because we will be able to recognize that none of this dismay comes from God. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

 

  

 

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay