Breaking Anxiety's Grip By Michelle BengtsonSample

Day Four

What I Dreaded Most

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

When we allow the spirit of fear to operate in our lives, it is like we are putting a cast on an arm or a leg that doesn’t need it. We are allowing it to immobilize us and hinder us from effectively living in the center of the peace that God has offered us. We are not alone in our struggle. Scripture gives examples of biblical greats who also struggled with fear. 

Consider Job. He was devoted to God and hated evil. Through Satan’s doing, all of Job’s livestock and shepherds were killed, his children were killed when a great wind leveled his son’s house, and Job was struck with painful sores over his entire body.

“What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil” (Job 3:25–26, NIV, emphasis added). The personal picture of disaster that Job had held in his heart made it easy for him to paint himself into the picture frame when that sequence of events came to pass. 

Scripture repeatedly commands, “Do not be afraid,” “Do not fear,” “Do not worry,” and “Be anxious for nothing.” Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our real struggle takes place in the spiritual realm. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, we must guard against the spirit of fear. Job’s devastating situation underscores a crucial truth: our thoughts have power. The enemy ushers havoc and trials into our lives when we agree with the spirit of fear instead of with God’s truth. 

God doesn’t promise that we won’t experience difficult circumstances. Yet, when we fear or worry about something, we are more likely to look for evidence to confirm we have reason to fear. 

God understands our humanness. He’s looking for an attitude of humility, a willingness to trust Him despite how difficult our circumstances appear, and a faith that says, “You are God and I am not, so I will trust in You.” 

Father, thank You for being our strength and our peace. Thank You for caring about every detail of our lives. Lift the weight of worry from my shoulders. Help me to cast all my cares on You, confident that You will comfort and provide in every circumstance. In Jesus’s name, amen.