A Spirit of Fear

My brother and I stopped for lunch after church today. We were enjoying our food, minding our own business, when the man at the next table started talking with us. He quickly moved the conversation from the restaurant's remodeling to the world's deterioration. Quite a gear shift, but out of the heart, the mouth speaks.

The man was obviously opposed to our current President, and believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that all of our nation's problems could be traced back to the man in the White House today. He nostalgically mused about the past and prophesied the dark future, thankful that it wouldn't be his problem much longer. He was a man with a powerful enemy whom he had no hope of defeating.

It wasn't that long ago that I felt as hopeless and fearful as the man at McDonald's as I looked at the political realm. I remember clearly when it began, in a middle school history class as we talked about world wars and considered what might happen if another one came around. History can be depressing, and the future on earth is looking far from ideal through the lens of earthly kingdoms.
As we all know, election season is just around the corner--a time in which I am tempted to turn my eyes to the kingdoms of this world for my security. I forget so quickly that the kingdom I belong to is not of this world. God is in control, and my life is in His hands. He has given me a verse over the past few years that has helped in this struggle.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

 This verse speaks to my heart in a special way. As more talk begins about the next President, and rumors circulate about what will happen to our country if he or she wins, I will not be participating in the conversation. Instead, I will be drawing closer to my heavenly Father, Who is love, and asking Him to drive back my fear of the future. Because, as John wrote, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out for: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

I am not saying that all Christians should stay away frim politics. But I am saying that it is an area in which I am not strong enough to delve into at the moment. Through God's grace, I am learning that I don't have to be afraid of the future. I was enslaved by fear for years, at times crippled by my worry as to what the rulers of this world could do. But, as a child of God, that is not my calling. "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)

My future is secure because of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. My true enemy wanted to enslave me to my sin and my fear, but my Redeemer set me free!

Friends, whatever your fears are, turn them over to the One Who holds the power to set you free. You won't regret it!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face, 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 

In the light if His glory and grace.

--Helen Lemmel