It is cast out with perfect love (1 John 4:18), and we can cast our fears on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). For one thing, it’s a spirit that does not come from God (2 Timothy 1:7) but can be delivered by God (Psalm 34:4). It’s the kind that brings torment or mental suffering, and it’s often deeply rooted in “what ifs.” It’s the kind God tells us not to entertain. Then there is the fear of everything else. The Fear of Everything Else: The Bad Kind It also prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27), helps us avoid snares (Proverbs 14:27), allows us to sleep satisfied (Proverbs 19:23), is our treasure (Isaiah 33:6), brings us blessing (Psalm 128:1,4), endures forever (Psalm 19:9), and is our confidence (Proverbs 14:26 & Job 4:6). According to the Bible, the fear of the Lord helps us depart from evil (Job 28:28) and is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10 & Proverbs 9:10) and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). It’s the kind of fear that makes us desire to please Him and dread to disappoint. This is the good kind of fear that is like a profound reverence and awe of God and His standing as holy and righteous. In the first place, there is the fear of the Lord.
Most Christians know that there are two kinds of fear, and the Bible is very specific about when to “fear” and when to “fear not.” The Fear of the Lord: The Good Kind It was the solution to the fear that brings torment. But this time, when I finally calmed down enough to hear what God was saying to me, it was like finding the perfect key to fit the lock. And he HAS used them many times to cause me pain and confusion despite my faith. He grabbed them greedily and tucked them away for future use. See, the enemy had heard those words too. But neither of us was laughing, especially not me. I spoke, and the words seemed to hang in the air like a talk bubble in a comic strip. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.I still remember the day several years ago when my husband asked me about my greatest fear. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.įor those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. "Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God, believe also in Me. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, " Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.īut the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'īut whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.