Break Free from Fear: Harnessing God’s Strength in Our Recovery

Hi and welcome to the Recovered Christian Podcast. This is Suzanne, and today we're going to talk about fear. If you look up fear in the dictionary, here is what it says an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Hmm, is fear unpleasant? That seems like not a strong enough word for fear. Being hungry is unpleasant, having too tight of pants is unpleasant, and we just finished Thanksgiving and I definitely know what that feels like. I'm not sure it comes to the same level of emotion as fear. The dictionary is right about it being a strong emotion. Sometimes it can be completely overwhelming and paralyzing and sometimes it can take over an entire life. Fear is a natural human emotion. We all experience it at some point and at some level. Some of us are more prone to fear than others. No matter how fear enters your life, it doesn't have to control you In our journey of recovery. Fear will likely be an unwelcome companion in the early days, creeping in, triggering doubts, anxieties and uncertainties. Fear comes from the evil one. Fear does not come from God, and the evil one wants to keep you bound and chained in your addiction and to Him. Thankfully, you can break free. God repeatedly encourages us not to fear. In fact, the phrase fear not appears 365 times in the Bible. Coincidence? I don't think so. You could read a verse about not fearing. Every day for an entire year, a constant reassurance from God for us to live without fear each and every beautiful day. Let's look at a couple verses. Isaiah 41, verse 10, says Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand when fear grips our hearts. We can find strength in knowing that God is always with us Always. He's never more than a breath, a thought away. His presence gives us the courage to face challenges. We're not alone. He promises to support, strengthen and uphold us with His victorious hand. I love to picture my sweet father holding me up, supporting me and taking care of me. He is and he does. Honestly, what more do I need? Psalm 23, verse 4, says Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23 is popular for a reason it's a Psalm full of comfort and promises. In our journey we will encounter dark and challenging times. That's just part of the path. We need to remember that God is not distant. He walks alongside us, offering protection and help. Even in the darkest moments, his presence brings reassurance and peace. Should we be afraid when he is right there waiting to help? Nope, we should not. Joshua 1, verse 9, says this is my command be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go. God commands us to be strong and courageous. His assurance of being with us wherever we go gives us the confidence to face any situation. God's presence empowers us to move forward without fear. He means what he says. If he says he will be with us wherever we go, you can count on it. John 14, verse 27 says I am leaving you with a gift peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Jesus offers us a unique gift of peace that transcends worldly understanding. When fear tries to disturb our peace, we can rely on the peace that Jesus gives, a peace that overcomes our troubles and anxieties. We need to let His perfect peace calm us in every circumstance and give us courage for every challenge we face. Second Timothy 1, verse 7 says For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. Fear doesn't align with what God has given us. It does not come from Him. He gives us power, love and self-discipline to confront fear. Instead of fear, we're empowered to live boldly, embracing His gifts in our daily lives. When you have moments of fear, stop. Ask the Holy Spirit to wash peace and comfort over you. Ask to feel His presence in a tangible way. Don't let the evil one derail you and lead you astray or, worse, put the chains of addiction back on you. There's no reason to be afraid. God told us that 365 times and if God says it, you can believe it. Let's pray For God. Thank you for the assurance that we need not fear In moments of weakness. Remind us of your presence. Grant us the courage to face our fears and fill our hearts with your peace. Help us to live in the power, love and discipline you've provided. May our lives reflect trust in you, despite our circumstances. Be with us on our journey to a recovered life. With you by our sides, we will not fail in your comforting and empowering name. Amen, don't be afraid. God is with us. He's with me, he's with you. He's just there waiting for your call. He promises His presence, his strength and His peace. He gave us a spirit of power and love. Fear does not align with the gifts he has poured upon us. He promises to walk with us through every situation, so let Him. Thank you so much for being with me today. I pray you have a bold and brave day, full of joy and absent of fear. I'll see you next time. Thank you so much for listening. I hope your bite-sized devotion today was very satisfying. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be honored if you'd leave a review or a rating. We are new, so every little bit helps me bring the word to the world. I'd love to get to know you better at our Facebook group, the Recovered Christian. I'll put a link to it in the show notes. So thanks again for being here and I will see you next time.