Sudden Fear
Today’s Verse:
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. ~Proverbs 3:25
As I write this devotion, the state of California has been in a lockdown of activities, gatherings, and certain types of assemblies due to the COVID pandemic. Although the current available metrics indicate that the overall risk of survival is high and the risk of contracting it is lower than previously projected, there is much apprehension and fear among many people. Our Scripture this morning addresses “sudden fear.” What do you do when sudden fear comes into your life?
We see the essence.
Sudden fear is an overwhelming fear that takes control of your emotions when an unexpected calamity occurs. It could be the announcement that you have been laid off from your job. It could be a medical exam or a diagnostic test that is unfavorable. It could be the loss of a loved one. It could be a major failure or financial loss that causes you to panic and stress out about your future. In Solomon’s day, it would have been an unexpected attack from a foreign nation or a disease outbreak. When sudden fear comes into your life, you can only think about the worst and the potential losses you might experience.
We see the effect.
Sudden fear has a multiplicity of effects on us. We are greatly distracted and cannot concentrate on anything else. We are overly anxious. We lose our appetite and cannot sleep. We withdraw from the company of family and friends. We can become clinically depressed. In some cases, a person contemplates suicide as a way of escape. Sudden fear is a satanic stronghold of the mind and soul. It has you in a vise-like grip. The worst part of sudden fear is that you believe the lie of Satan that God does not love you, has abandoned you, and cannot help you.
We see the essential.
“For the LORD shall be thy confidence.” When sudden fear comes into our life, it is critically important to turn this situation completely over to God and have faith in Him. There is no surer confidence than in the Lord. We must believe that “God is.” We must believe that God is for us and not against us. We must believe that God loves us and that nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We must believe that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. We must bring all of our thoughts captive to the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ. The only One we can have complete confidence in is our Lord. As the Lord told Abraham, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
We see the escape.
"... And shall keep thy foot from being taken." When our confidence is in the Lord, He will keep us from stepping into the snare of the enemy. He will keep us from tripping over our own feet. He will keep the enemy from hitting us below the knee and immobilizing us. All of this means we do not have to be paralyzed by our fears but can keep walking by faith and not by sight. We do not have to stop, but with confidence, we can keep going.
We cannot avoid sudden fear in our life. However, we can respond and not react. We can see sudden fear as an opportunity to trust in the Lord, increase our faith, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. Meet your sudden fear with sudden faith!
Have a fearless God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Mark 6-7