Fear cripples!

I’ve been learning a lot lately about not giving in to fear. The current pandemic has tried to initiate fear but I’m choosing not to let it. We all need to be intentional in taking this stance.

Let’s consider a lovely portion of the Bible -1 Kings chapters 17 through 19 starring Prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath . Join me as we learn a few things from their journey in life.

• Fear freezes your livelihood

So this widow is confronted by Elijah and he’s asking her for food that she doesn’t have! In fact, she opens up to him that the little flour and oil left is probably the last meal she and her son would eat. God however has other plans, both for this family and Elijah but something has to be dealt with called fear!

But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. (1 Kings 17:13)

Thankfully, this woman against all odds, gets rid of fear and the result is an everlasting provision in a time of famine. Her livelihood would have been brought to a halt if fear wasn’t dealt with.

For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. (1Kings 17:14-16)

Dear friend, what’s up against you? Are you going to let fear freeze you or are you going to live your life based on what God has promised you?

• Fear fades your confidence

It’s all rosy until the widow’s son becomes sick and eventually dies. God how can you let…? Nod in agreement if you have been here before! Suddenly she’s thinking, ‘maybe it’s my sins.’ I would have thought that a daily miracle of provision would have kept her unshaken but that was not to be. Thank God for his servant, Elijah who activates faith and the lad is raised from the dead!

Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?” But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed. Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived! Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” (1 Kings 17:17-23)

This is a good point to reflect on what might trigger fear in you. Jesus is waiting to take away every sin and cause you to be confident to stand before Him now and always! There’s no decision better than this.

• Fear fiddles with your assignment

The prophet Elijah is not left out of the life battle with fear. You wouldn’t believe that after being used by God in amazing ways, he would become fearful following a threat from Jezebel.

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal. So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” (1 Kings 19:1-4)

This is not the end of the road for Elijah though. God more or less talks sense into him when he feels really weak and done for.

Have you felt this way about your life? Perhaps, you have contemplated ending it all when God hasn’t blown the final whistle. Friend, God still cares a lot about you. He’s interested in every facet of your life and He won’t let go so just hold on. Don’t be crippled by fear cos it’s got no hold on you!

Cheers to you who keep winning fear battles. Share your testimonies. Encourage someone to say NO TO FEAR!!!