Overcoming Doubt and Fear with God’s Guidance

Unless the Lord builds a house,
The work of the builders is wasted!
Psalm 127:1 ERV

Mary Magdalene went and told those who had been with Jesus and who were mourning and weeping. Yet, when they heard Jesus was alive and that she had seen Him, they did not believe it (Mark 16:10-11).

For three years the Apostles walked with Jesus and were witnesses of all He said and did. Yet, in the absence of His presence, they were found to be numbered among the worldly: Unbelieving, confused, frustrated, doubtful, upset, disappointed, anxious, rejected, abandoned…Controlled and guided by emotion.

Though they heard what Jesus said, “I have spoken to you of earthly things, and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things (John 3:12), like the world understanding had also evaded them. Because of our natural limitations, they quickly fell back into what is familiar – the patterns of deep-rooted, ingrained ways of thinking, believing, and behaving. 

The forces of negativity can so easily cause us to waver. For example, fear can interrupt processes in our brain that allow us to regulate emotions, read non-verbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting, and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. Taken from the article “Impact of Fear and Anxiety” written by Louise Delagran, MA. Med. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/impact-fear-and-anxiety

When we welcome Jesus in our lives – even though we still experience the limitations of sin – because everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23), we can experience life on God’s terms (Romans 8:10 Message). For God gives power to the faint and weary, and to those who have no might He increases strength, causing it to multiply and making it to abound (Isaiah 40:29 AMP).

There is a great deal of baggage we have received from the world because faith has been placed in self and others, instead of God. As a result, we struggle with the excessive weight of issues such as: Codependency, people pleasing, phobias, narcissism, mental health issues, emotional traumas….

God knows all our innate, deep-rooted thoughts and beliefs. He is aware of what motivates our heart and the issues with which we struggle, and He personally ministers to us because He wants us to be strong in faith. He wants us to be free from error (Titus 1:13). And error develops when understanding of the Word (Christ Jesus) and the Power of God (Holy Spirit) is lacking (Matthew 22:29).

In fact, unless we are made aware of the error in our thinking and our character deficits, we can wrongly believe God condones our erroneous judgments.

It is quite true the way to live a godly life is not an easy matter (1 Timothy 3:16 TLB). For in these last days grievous times have come. People are lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, rebellious, unthankful, without self-control, puffed up, head strong, traitorous, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Holding a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ASV).

Christ died once to take away the sins of many people (Hebrews 9:28); therefore, since Christ suffered while He was in His body, we should strengthen ourselves with the same kind of thinking (ERV). For remember, when our body suffers, sin loses it power, and we won’t be spending the rest of our life chasing after evil desires but will be anxious to do the will of God (1 Peter 4:1-3 TLB).

I pray the children of God to work hard so God can say, “Well done!” Yes, that we are good workmen who do not need to be ashamed when God examines our work. That we are correctly handling the Word of Truth knowing what God says and means (2 Timothy 2:15 TLB).

A disciple training for the Kingdom of Heaven
Is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse
Treasure that is new and treasure that is old
The fresh as well as the familiar.
Matthew 13:52 AMP