Fearless: How to Conquer Fear ForeverSample

DAY 3 — The Problem is Not the Problem

God's love prepares us for any storm so that we don’t have to fear whatever comes our way.

The problems in our lives are not the real problem. Read Mark 4:35–41. I want you to notice a few things about this powerful passage of scripture.

The storm in Mark 4:35–41 occurred the very SAME DAY that Jesus said earlier, “The sower sows the Word” (Mark 4:14), and “The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed in the ground and goes to sleep” (Mark 4:26). Here, Jesus sums up the Kingdom of God:

1. The man plants seed; 2. He goes to sleep; 3. The seed grows.

Notice this: “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us cross over to the other side'" (Mark 4:35). Here we see Jesus has planted the seed of God’s Word.

When the storm hits, He is at peace and asleep. The storm was not the problem. If it were, Jesus would not have slept through it. The storm simply revealed the problem that already existed. The problem was that the disciples were ruled by the storm, resulting in fear, rather than being ruled by God’s love and promises.

Here is the secret: Whenever fear comes, take inventory of what you have. God’s love is always accompanied by a gift! Here He armed them with four powerful gifts to make it through the storm. And He has armed YOU with these same four powerful gifts:

1. The disciples had a promise. Jesus said, “We’re going to the other side.”

2. They had God’s presence. Sometimes we forget He is with us. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Because Thou art with me”

3. They had God’s divine power. God is sovereign over it all including nature. “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour'” (Job 37:5-6) and to the wind and waves, “Quite! Be still!” (Mark 4:39).

4. They had God’s purpose. God’s purpose is always greater than the problem. Declare this in the midst of your storm: “This storm is not going to drown or defeat me because I haven’t fulfilled His complete purpose for my life yet. I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord! According to Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plans for me are good and not evil. If this storm defeats me, that would be evil. So, I say to the storm, ‘Peace, be still!’”

Now when the next problem comes, you know how to deal with it because you’ve learned the problem is not the problem. And you have taken inventory of what you ALREADY have!

Jesus calmed the storm. Why? The only one who can calm the storm is the one who is not afraid of it. Never forget that whenever you go through a storm, you have His promise, His presence, His power, and His purpose.