You and I are in a fight, but are we fighting against an enemy that has already been defeated? Why are we allowing fear to keep us from living into the calling God has placed on our lives?

What are you afraid of

We avoid what we are afraid of because avoidance is comfortable. But only in the short term. The problem is the longer we avoid something the harder it is to overcome.

What is it in your life that you are afraid of? Is it hindering you from loving your neighbor and living a life that is Christ centered?

“Fear not” is a common phrase in the Bible. Why? Because the battle has already been won. Yes, there are fears to overcome. Yes, there will be difficulties in this life. But the truth is that you and I know how the story ends, and God is victorious.

Fear of being found out

While we each struggle with personal fears around health, relationships, and earthly comforts, a common fear is the fear of being found out. This fear can keep us from putting ourselves out there. Whether it is online, at work, or at church we project an image of how we want the world to view us.

The reality is there is a gap between what we want to be and who we really are. Again, the battle has already been fought and God is victorious.

God has declared us righteous before we ever are.

Romans 5:1-5 (CSB) says, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

We do not have to get everything right before we come to God. Even after we are welcomed into God’s family we will continue to get things wrong, but masks are not necessary. God knows each of us fully and welcomes us in just as we are.

Our sin was conquered on the cross. There is no need to fear because God does not disappoint.

The choice is yours

You have been given the opportunity to defeat fear. The choice is yours. Will you live as a victim or pursue victory? There is victory to be had. The spirit of God is greater than the enemy outside of you. He has already proven that through Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. So why fear?