3 Ways to Beat Fear
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
We all have secret fears to face. We all experience fear, but not everyone is honest about this universal experience. Do you have fear about the future? Are you afraid of your past? How do you deal with fear?
There are three clues in this verse from the Book of Proverbs that can help us overcome fear.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
It is hard to master the habit of trust. It is hard for us to entrust ourselves to God because we want to rely on ourselves. Nevertheless, it is one of the keys to a peaceful life. We do not believe in an impersonal force that guides the universe. It is our belief that there is a good God who watches over each of us. According to Christian tradition, this is called Providence. Our final end is ordered by God. In the same way that a carpenter builds a table for people to use for work or eating, God creates each of us so that we will serve and love him in this world, and be happy in the next.
Don't bet on your own intelligence
If God made you intelligent, be grateful to him. But do not become too puffed up or over-confident in your own intelligence. The most intelligent persons are always aware of the gaps in their own knowledge. It is always a sign of ignorance when somebody tries to show off as a know-it-all. We should be fundamentally humble in our dealings with intelligence. God looks on the humble and lowly and raises them up. When you are open to others' opinions, you have a better chance of coming to a fuller understanding of the truth.
Be mindful of God
Too much of the world tries to live as if God did not exist. They might contemplate the problem of evil and conclude that a good and benevolent God cannot coexist with evil in the world. As they observe evil in the world, they conclude that God does not exist. They live their lives accordingly, ignoring moral laws as they have no grounds without a God who is Creator and Legislator of the world. But for us, it is different. We are called to be mindful of God. The Book of Proverbs insists on this because the author saw that it was a source of wisdom. The one who does not believe in God risks becoming a fool, devoid of even human wisdom.
Question for the day: How does fear invade your life and what are you going to do about it?
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
