Unhealthy FearsSample

Healthy Fear of God

I was extremely intimidated by the older students when I started high school. They were so big that it seemed like they could walk into a liquor store and not get carded. I was initially so afraid of them that I did my best to avoid them.

Have you ever felt that way about God? Have you ever been filled with fear when you think about his power and his presence? And has your fear of him made you want to avoid him?

There are about two hundred places in the Bible that talk about the “fear of God.” To fear God means that you are so aware of his power and his presence that it profoundly changes the way you think, feel, and live. But a healthy fear of God doesn’t make you want to hide from him.

In high school, I eventually learned that the guys I had been most afraid of were the best possible teammates to have on the football field. I remember the protection they provided to advance me (and the ball) forward.

God sent his Son not to condemn you but to rescue you. He wrapped his infinite power in love for you. A healthy fear of God means you live with the awareness that his proximity is what keeps you safe.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).