A couple of years ago I went to a conference center when I was feeling especially down.  I don’t even remember what the conference was about, but it gave me a getaway experience where I could reconnect with God and sort out some serious issues.  One thing I will never forget is that God told me that I should ask for Him to take away my fear.

I couldn’t even tell you exactly what I was so afraid of.  I wasn’t staying indoors, afraid of what may be lurking around the corner.  In fact, I don’t think it hindered me much from doing the sort of things I always do, but … God pegged it.  I did have a deep sense of fear underneath the surface.

I think maybe I was afraid that I didn’t have what it takes to be a success.  I was afraid that everyone would find out how nonspiritual I was.  I was afraid that I had failed to be the father and husband my family deserved.  Each week I was afraid that I had wasted the time I had, and afraid that time would run out before I could do what I needed to do.

Fear had settled in and bound me up on the inside.  And God wanted to deliver me from that.  So, I asked.  I can’t really explain it, but when I asked, He took my fear away.   For days and months afterward, I felt free.  Unbound.

I believe fear has come back from time to time, but I’m trying to give it less and less power over me.  One verse of Scripture that I continue to think about is 2 Timothy 1:7

⁷For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

God did not make the human spirit to be bound in fear.  And He cares if your spirit is troubled.  Ask him to reveal what has a choke hold on you, and then ask him to free you.

We had a great start to the InterFEARence series, and I hope after thinking through the frightening wind and waves experience Peter had with Jesus, you’ll be ready to return next week to consider your own life hindered by inner fear.  See you Sunday!