It is called unwarranted fear, being afraid of something for no other reason than the fear itself, it is an emotional response not based in logic, but in the corners of the mind. These types of fear can cause absolutely no physical damage to the body, but to the mind they can be devastating, they are classified as phobias, and you might be surprised just how long that list is.
There are two main points to these fears, they rarely damage the body, and they are illogical, unless it is you. This is not running for cover when the storms begin to get bad, this is an unnatural fear, one that has no substance in reality, and it is always the ones that generally go untreated by the individual who is experiencing them. I do not mean psychological help or medications, I mean an active pursuit from the individual to face that fear, that is the initial step that they will not take.
It does little good to quote 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Or even “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) They will listen, but they will not hear, they will understand, but they will not apply the knowledge offered to them.
Fear is what Satan uses to run this world, sometimes it is subtle, at other times it is right in our face, either way, for most individuals it is the key to obedience, for fear is the ultimate tool. It matters not if it comes in the light or in the dark of night, what matters, especially today, is that the knowledge of it is known to be right around the corner, waiting to show its face fully, for this is how anxiety arrives. Again, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil. 4:6) This is a good verse, but how well do you apply it when the creeping malaise begins to shroud your thoughts, when the newsperson informs you of the coming dread, when all hope looks like it will be gone, again.
No one born has ever been completely fearless, it is always something for everyone, but that begs the question, is there ever a warranted fear? Again, we could bring up not only the storms of this world, but those of the mind, but again a question, would Psalm 91:7 “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee,” alleviate that fear. Would “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower,” (Psalm 18:2) be enough to live without fear, are these verses truly enough for you?
If we do not trust in Jesus Christ for everything, we will never trust Him in somethings completely. If there is one thing that every student of the Scriptures knows, that every person who desires to serve the Lord God with all they have, with all they are, is that that is exactly what He requires from us, everything. All fear must be laid aside, submission to the will of the Holy Spirit must be our top priority, we must walk in the strength that He gives us, or we will not be profitable servants. This then begs the last question in this letter to you, are you profitable to the kingdom, does your personal walk with Jesus lead you to His throne of grace in every circumstance in your life, humbly walking there with boldness.
I believe that most of you just said, “I want to,” but wanting is not the same as doing, there are no rewards in heaven for good intentions. Death, pain, whether physical or mental, being ostracized by those that know us, all of these and more are the fears, but if it helps you, think on Him this way, not that Christ is always walking with you, not that the Holy Spirit is within you, but that every time you turn around, the Lord Jesus is going to ask you to give a reason, to give an account for what you just did, or did not do. You will understand when He becomes real to you just who you really are, and why.
