When Fear Becomes An Idol
Have you ever considered that fear can become an idol?
An idol is anything that we elevate above God. Anything we fixate on, above God. Anything that demands our time, money, minds, and selves, above God. We are in a time where COVID is on the rise and the level of fear is as well. I am not saying we should turn our backs on what God is doing through COVID and not take it seriously. But is fear really what God wants us to be living in? Fear is not of God, but of our enemy. The only thing we should fear is HIM.
Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
How is fear any different than any other command in the Bible?
Do not fear (Gen. 50:21). Boom. Said and done. If we are committed to doing God’s will each moment of the day, fear should never get in the way. If I do all I can, to do what I feel God has set before me, what more can I do? And yet, we elevate fear above God. We elevate man-made medicine, above God. We elevate things of this world, above our sovereign God. We elevate the fear of death, above God. We elevate worry, as if it’s going to change His mind, above Him. We have somehow concluded that fear is okay, while we ignore the fact that “fear” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. One for each day of the year. That’s not coincidence, but a God-cidence. Either we can fear and live a debilitating life of anxiety and stress. OR, we can fear GOD and live life in complete trust, peace, and dependence on the One who numbers our days anyways.
Psalm 34:4-5 says, I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This was very encouraging to me today, thank you for sharing it!
I’m thankful it spoke to you and this is a message I remind myself of often too!