Fear can have a debilitating effect in our lives. It is easy when we look at the world around us and the things that are happening to give in to fear -to be fearful of what tomorrow holds. But there is a way out.
Last week we looked at some of the wisdom and practical advice in Romans 8. And is it Romans we turn again to read how to deal with fear. It is by not going back and giving in to the path we were on before- the path of sin, the old life. We have moved on from there.
Paul reminds the Romans and us that,‘you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15. If we are being ‘led by the Spirit of God’, verse 14 and God is our Father, verse 15, what do we have to be fearful about?
Deep inside us we have that perfect assurance that we are ‘children of God,’ verse 16. And the beautiful truth is that if we are children of God we are also ‘heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ’ verse 17. What a future therefore awaits us!
However, did you notice there is another part to the verse, a proviso or condition? Yes, we will be glorified with him IF ‘we suffer with Him.’ That is the condition. Too often people want to take out and deny that suffering exists in the Christian life. They claim that once we come to Jesus everything will be wonderful and we never will have any problems. This is not what the Bible teaches.
Paul and those of us who have experienced suffering in our lives, know it is often during the suffering that we draw closer to God – that the suffering has a purpose in our lives. We ca also know as Paul did that though we are called to suffer in this life, that is nothing compared to the great inheritance that is ours -an inheritance we can scarcely imagine because it is too wonderful for our finite minds to fully grasp!
This is the hope and the truth we hold onto.
That hope should sustain us in the hard times and help us to persevere in our Christian life, verse 25 and to not give in to fear because no matter what is happening in our lives God is always in control.
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
Related blogs
How to Deal with Fears and Worry
Practical Help for Christian Living