Jesus is all powerful, restraining and conquering all His and our enemies, has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, preserves, provides for, and protects us, is reigning in glory, and will never leave or forsake us. When we live in fear we stop believing in God as He truly is—Sovereign, preserving and governing all His creatures and all their actions.

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” II Kings 6:16 NKJV

During a college summer break, my brother, a friend, and I spent a Saturday at the beach where we swam in the ocean much of the afternoon. At some point the current pulled my friend and me out further from the shore and we had to swim and float as we could no longer stand. When my friend put his foot down to stand and realized he could not (though he had been swimming fine) he immediately panicked and began to thrash wildly in the water in the early stages of drowning. When I attempted to calm him down and help him, he grabbed on to me and pushed me under the water. I had to swim away from him rather than be drowned. While my brother saw the problem and went for the lifeguards my friend and I repeated this routine several times. I lifted him up for air, he pushed me under, I swam away and he began to go under again all the while he screamed, thrashed, and consumed salt water. Thanks to my brother’s quick understanding of the situation, the lifeguards arrived on a jet ski and pulled my friend to shallow water. I learned a valuable lesson about fear that day in the ocean: When captured by fear, logic, reason, and faith seem to vanish.

My Pastor, Zecharias Weldeyesus, has recently been teaching our church during Sunday School about fear and the Sovereignty of God. He has helpfully described fear like a prison for the soul. Captured by fear the Christian quickly falls into sin. Fear of what is happening or could happen in a given situation is a great enemy. Just the word “fear” brings to mind those things that we believe will bring us harm. Fear is an emotion, so strong that it can keep us from trusting the Lord in a dreaded situation. In battle as the enemy approaches, fear can take hold of a man so that he cannot aim his weapon or respond to orders. The fear of drowning can send a swimmer, like my friend, into panic and shock. Rather than reach out and take hold of a life preserver they may drown because of their fear. Fear of failure and loss causes us to doubt God. Fear of disease can keep us shut in our homes for many months even forsaking the assembly of God’s people.

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