Theme of the month: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 7: LIVE HAPPY... WITHOUT FEAR

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

[Background: After yesterday’s piece, several readers asked me to write something about coping with fear in your everyday life. I’m sharing a picture with you today which might strengthen your faith if fear threatens to overwhelm you.]

Have you ever seen an evil character in an animated film pinning another character with knives through his clothes a few inches above the ground against a wall? For a moment the character pinned to the wall feels overwhelmed with fear and totally misses the aspect that he can escape by wiggling his arms and legs long enough. This will cause the knives to fall to the ground.

This is what the enemy does in our lives. He uses fear to pin us up against the wall. Because we initially are so overwhelmed with fear, we don’t realize that we can escape from the grip when we wiggle ourselves loose. How do we do it? We remind ourselves (and the enemy) about who God is and about his promises for our situations. Jesus did this when Satan tried to tempt him in the wilderness.

Here are some practical examples of how God’s promises can become our sword against the enemy when he attacks us through negative thoughts:

• Fear of illness: In Isaiah 53:5, we read: “But he (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

• Fear of loneliness: In Hebrews 13:5 we read God’s words: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

• Fear that God will not forgive you for something you did: In Isaiah 1:18 God said: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

• Fear of bad decisions: In James 1:5 we read: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

• Fear of the future: In Jeremiah 29:11 we read: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

• Fear that you will not get a spouse, will never have a baby or your marriage will end in divorce: In Psalm 37:4 we read: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

Let us choose to live happy today, trusting God in all circumstances. Remember, He can give you a partner or a baby in an instant, He can restore your marriage even though it feels like you are on the verge of a divorce, He can heal a loved one even though the doctors gave him or her a month to live. And God can remove all knives around you and help you down from the wall. Jesus has already overcame the enemy and pinned him up against the wall, hasn’t He? God bless.

Father God, thank you for being in control of my life. Help me to live without fear, but with complete faith in You. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.