Did you know it’s impossible to have faith and be afraid at the same time? It’s impossible to have faith and yet fear. Try it. Think of something that makes you terrified or anxious; then think of how God watches over you and protects you. You won’t be able to hang on to the fear when believing, and you won’t be able to hang on to the faith when fear takes over.
Waking Out of a Dead Sleep
Have you ever been woken out of the middle of a dead sleep with fear coursing through you? Several years ago, I had to testify in a custody court case for a woman in our church. Soon after, we were woken in the middle of the night with a car fire. When the tires blew out, the exploding sound woke us up out of a dead sleep. When we looked out the window and saw the flames shooting high into the sky, right next to the room where our three little ones slept, fear shot into me so hard and fast. Someone pounded on our front door, telling us to grab our kids and get out.
There’s nothing like running out of your house in your pajamas with little kids hanging off of you. I remember feeling the biast of the heat hit my face as soon as I stepped out. Neighbors were shouting this and that as we got away from the blazing fire. Eventually, the fire trucks got there and put out the fire. We were safe; none of us had been harmed. But the fear that entered my heart that night didn’t go away for a long time.
No Longer Feeling Safe
The home that we loved suddenly no longer felt safe. I woke up every night around three in the morning with my heart pounding in my chest. I would leave my room and go check on our sleeping children before making my way back to my room.
The aftermath of that fire affected me for a long time with sleepless nights and fear that had a stranglehold on me. It took a long time for me to get victory, but with God’s help, eventually the fear started to fade and I could sleep through the night again.
The only thing that helped during those nights when fear would wrap its icy tentacles around my heart was God’s Word. I said the same few verses over and over and over again.
Breaking Fear’s Stronghold
I have found the only way to conquer fear is God’s Word. These two verses were and still are the verses that I flood my mind with when fear takes over.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.Psalm 56:3 NLT
When I say these verses either out loud or in my mind, my faith begins to beat back the fear. Fear can not keep its stranglehold on us when faith beats it back.
I encourage you to memorize these verses and add them to your arsenal. The next time fear tries to control you, say these verses out loud or in your mind. The fear gripping your heart will begin to ease, and faith will beat it back. Peace will flood your heart and soul. Faith wins over fear every single time.
The Storm
We see this in the story in the New Testament. The disciples get caught in a storm and think they are going to die. It must have been quite the storm to scare seasoned fishermen. They wake up Jesus, who was asleep in the boat with them, and ask Him to save them. Before Jesus calms the storm, He has these words to say to them.
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26 NLT
Jesus was showing us that it is impossible to have both fear and faith in control at the same time; only one will win. Let’s let faith be the winner. Let your faith grow strong, and your fear will take a backseat.
More Encouragement
For more encouragement, check out my post, 3 Steps to Releasing Worry and Fear. If you want to know more of my story, check out my book, The Hidden Pain: When You Fear God is No Longer Blessing Your Life.
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