Do Not FearSample

Recognize Different Types of Fear

In case you have not noticed, in the past two days, the Word of God has been revealing two very different types of fear: troubling fear and comforting fear. We call troubling fear the feeling we perceive when things go really wrong, when we face adversity. Corrie Ten Boom describes it like this, “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”

We have diagnosed this type of fear and also given the remedy: Invite God to your adversity and let it become a university. Learn your lesson, allow God to test your faith, and grow by trusting and believing that He will be there for you. Refuse to surrender to sin; instead, know that God will answer your prayer. 

God is a specialist in showing up when we need Him the most. Sometimes it may feel like He is taking too long to answer, but be patient, trust, and do not lose hope. Draw closer to Him, pray, and surrender your problem. 

The second type of fear is what we call comforting fear. As Pastor Mark Batterson said, “The only God-ordained fear is the fear of God, and if we fear Him, we do not have to fear anyone or anything else.” We experience this “good” type of fear in front of our mighty and loving heavenly Father. It is the kind of fear that allows you to know that He is always in control, because He is sovereign. It is a comforting fear because it is born out of awe and reverence. It promotes and demonstrates an attitude of complete trust in God.

What is troubling you right now? Are you afraid of getting sick? Do financial problems keep you awake at night? Picture your problem pushing you into the heart of Jesus. Learn to listen to His heartbeat. Receive comfort from God, instead of allowing the problem to push you away from His comfort and love. Why should you fear when you are in the arms of the Father? 

I want to invite you to pray with me: “Today, I am responding to the fear of ___________. I commit to remembering God by calling out to Him in prayer and by spending time reading His Word. I trust that Jesus’s sacrifice was sufficient to cover my sin and restore my relationship with God. Father, grant me Spirit-led courage to face my fears and realize that you are with me through it all. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

This devotional plan is based on the 2020 Series, “Do Not Fear”, preached by Pastor Gregg Matte. To watch the whole sermon, please follow this link: https://houstonsfirst.org/message/dont-fear