Fear is A Type of Faith?

You know those days when you are overloaded with homework, you get bad news, and you feel rejected by others?

It’s so easy in those moments to rely on doubts to shape our mindset rather than faith. It’s easier to believe we’re not enough than to believe Jesus makes us royal (1 Peter 2:9-10). Relying on fear is easier than choosing faith.

At least at first. Over time, choosing doubts takes a toll on us. That’s because fear is a type of faith—it’s simply faith in the wrong things.

We all choose faith every day. Faith in our past or in the future Jesus wrote for us. Faith in what we can do or in what God can do in us. Faith in God or in the enemy. Faith in truth or in lies.

Ultimately, our doubts reveal more about who we are than who God is. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). He’s steadfast when we’re flippant. He’s good when we’re anything but. Jesus fights for us even when we sit on the sidelines of apathy.

Psalm 47:9 says all “the shields of the earth belong to God.†Ephesians 6:16 tells us to take up the shield of faith. Psalm 7:10 says our shield is with God. Psalm 18:35 says His hand sustains us. In other words, we don’t have to hold up the shield of faith on our own. We were never created to. Jesus is the One who holds it up. Because all the shields of the earth belong to Him.

When you experience doubt and fear, take it as an encouragement to learn more about God. With Him, faithfulness is unwavering, and doubts don’t have the last word. In Christ, we have a shield! • Sarah Rexford

• We all have doubts. What doubts are you having about God? What lies do they show you’re believing about His character?

• Read Ephesians 2:8-10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. Why is it so important that Jesus is the One who holds up our faith? What has Christ done—and what will He do—that we can’t?

Above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 (WEB)

Read Verses:

Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 1:5