Satan Loves Our Fear
“I’m just scared…”
How many sentences have you heard over the last few weeks and months that start with that phrase, or something very similar?
- “I’m scared about what will happen if Biden gets elected.”
- “I’m scared about what will happen if Trump gets reelected.”
- “I’m scared about what this virus is doing to our country.”
- “I’m scared that some people will never come back to church, even when the coronavirus has a vaccine.”
- “I’m worried about kids not having a regular school year again.”
Certainly, we could go on, but are these–and many, many other similar sentiments–commonly heard and shared with the world right now?
And I want to suggest that our enemy, the devil, loves it.
Now, I am not saying that we should have no concerns whatsoever in this world. Simply by living here, we must have concerns for health and safety and for our cities and nation. We are concerned with sicknesses and with safety and with the direction of our nation. Those are legitimate concerns, and we are right to try to do things that we think are wise and Biblical to help make things as good as they can be.
But…to worry? That’s a different, and very dangerous, thing.
True worry is a sign that we no longer trust in the Almighty God. When we worry about everything, we are placing our trust in things of this world and not in the God Who created this world. We are thinking that we have to solve everything and not trusting that, with patience and prayer, God can help us seek better solutions.
Further, as Jesus Himself reminded us, worry really does no good anyway. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27, ESV) When we worry, we take the focus off of God and place it on ourselves and other people…and, maybe, that should worry us, because we aren’t that great at solving things without Him!
Also, worry is not something God gives us anyway! “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). In context, Paul was telling Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (verse 6) so that young preacher would stay strong in the faith. Worry–or, as Paul put it here, “fear”–holds us back from that strength.
When we are filled with worry…
…we will be less likely to be evangelistic, because we will believe that no one wants to hear the Gospel anymore.
…we will waste time, because we will sit and stew over things we can’t change anyway, instead of reading our Bible, praying, or helping a neighbor.
…we will more easily give into other temptations, because we will be worried about what others think instead of what God desires.
…we will NOT be seeking first the kingdom, because our minds will be too centered on earthly things.
Yes, let’s be concerned and think through issues. Yes, let’s try to be wise and discerning in how we deal with various issues, from day-to-day pressures to huge and worldwide struggles.
But let’s not worry. Let’s focus on our main task, which is glorifying the only One Who is over all and in charge of it all.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
