No Fear Here
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
2 Tim 1:7 (AMP)
Many times in life we are given task and responsibilities that seem to surpass our level of natural ability. As we weigh the task, our capacity, available resources, and knowledge in the given area of duty often appear far less than what is needed to successfully complete our assignment. Thoughts of inferiority and inadequacy drain the believer in Christ of necessary energy and faith, consequently causing them to drift into what Scripture describes as having “a spirit of fear or timidity.” Fear does not always appear as an outward display of debilitating caution, total disablement, or the abandonment of something or someone. The spirit of fear presents itself as an inward sense of terror or dread lead by panic-stricken thoughts of failure, defeat, being overpowered, overcome, or triumphed over. Such feelings and emotions are satans attempt to attack the believer’s confidence in God and their own ability to the point they shrink back, hide, and excuse themselves from their God given task. In spite of the difficulties and persecutions, the Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy of his need to be zealous and to continuously cultivate the gift God had bestowed upon him. In the same manner, God’s people must, with great passion, steadily engage in fanning the flame of the Holy Spirit within through exercising faith in God’s Word and Sovereign Power. Therefore, effectively apply God’s love, power, and self-discipline to every God given task and its opposition. Remember that when faith is applied, fear will not and cannot reside.