Forty Days Without FearSample

OVERCOMING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

Have we ever been anxious before an exam or competition? The feeling of sickness and helplessness can be crippling, and it can have a negative effect on our confidence. The fear that we may be feeling is a fear of the unknown, and fear of becoming overwhelmed. We are unsure of what will lie before us when we open the exam booklet, so we start to worry about all the possible scenarios – all of them negative!

When Jesus walked on the water, He invited Peter to join Him. As Peter stepped out of the boat, he miraculously walked towards Jesus on the water!

However, after a couple of steps Peter became overwhelmed by everything going on around him - the wind and the waves, and he quickly began to sink. The point of the passage is clear: If we trust Jesus with our future and keep looking to Him, we can trust that He will keep us afloat. But when we shift our focus from Jesus onto our circumstances, fear can take over and, like Peter, we begin to sink.

We may not know what our future holds, but we do know the One who holds it! So, let’s put anxiety and fear aside and decide to trust God’s goodness and plan for our lives.

Action: Bring an anxiety about the unknown before God in prayer. Tell Him how you feel and then write down what He wants you to know, because He’s got this!