HOW TO HANDLE ANXIETY
Reading in Tim Tebow’s blog last week, here is a quote and some comments from him about overcoming anxiety. “Trust, love and confidence in God can help us to overcome fear, uncertainty, and anxiety in these difficult times.”
We need to have an unshakeable trust and faith in the Lord. Let’s choose to rejoice, which is an expression of confidence in God. We can safely be confident in God wonderful plan for our life. Let’s express confidence in God through our words of encouragement, actions, and attitudes.
HELPFUL SCRIPTURES...
WISDOM PROTECTS FROM FEAR
Proverbs 1:33 – WHOSO HEARKENS UNTO ME (WISDOM) SHALL DWELL SAFELY, AND SHALL BE QUIET FROM FEAR OF EVIL.
Proverbs 3:25-26 – BE NOT AFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR, NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMES. FOR THE LORD SHALL BE YOUR CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP YOUR FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.
I Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God!
JESUS IS OUR PROTECTOR!
FIGHT FEAR
FEAR IS AN ENEMY! (Hebrews 2:15)
FEAR BRINGS TORMENT! (I John 4:18)
FEAR IS NOT FAITH! (Mark 4:40)
GOD DOES NOT GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR! (2 Timothy 1:7)
GOD TELLS US NOT TO FEAR! (Isaiah 41:10)
BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! (Joshua 1:9)
SINNERS/HYPOCRITES ARE FEARFUL
ISAIAH 33:14 –THE SINNERS IN ZION ARE AFRAID; FEARFULNESS HAS SURPRISED THE HYPOCRITES. WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITH THE DEVOURING FIRE? WHO AMONG US SHALL DWELL WITH EVERLASTING BURNINGS?
THE FEARFUL ARE JUDGED IN THE LAKE OF FIRE
REVELATION 21:8 BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNS WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH.
THE FIGHT OF FAITH
I TIMOTHY 6:12 – FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
FAITH
Hebrews 11:1,2 [ By Faith We Can Understand ] NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. FOR BY IT THE ELDERS OBTAINED A GOOD TESTIMONY. BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD OF GOD, SO THAT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN WERE NOT MADE OF THINGS WHICH ARE VISIBLE.
FAITH IN GOD
MARK 11:22 – So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have FAITH IN GOD!”
COMMON FEARS
DEATH; DEVIL (& evil spirits); ACCIDENTS; SICKNESS & DISEASE; FAILURE; REJECTION; LACK OF FINANCIAL PROVISION; SHORTAGE OF FOOD; HOPELESSNESS OR DESPAIR; JUDGMENT; LONELINESS; EVIL & VIOLENT PEOPLE; ETC…
HEARTS FAIL FOR FEAR
Luke 21:26 – MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, AND FOR LOOKING AFTER THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE COMING ON THE EARTH: FOR THE POWERS OF HEAVEN SHALL BE SHAKEN.
FEAR IS A TRAP
PROVERBS 29:25 – THE FEAR OF MAN BRINGS A SNARE: BUT WHOSO PUTS HIS TRUST IN THE LORD SHALL BE SAFE.
THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did NOT give us a SPIRIT OF FEAR, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
OVERCOMING FEAR
I JOHN 4:18 – Perfect love drives out (casts out) FEAR!
I JOHN 5:4,5 – … This is the VICTORY that overcomes the world, even our FAITH.
I JOHN 4:4 – … greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
ROMANS 8:31-32 – If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
HEBREWS 2:15 …that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through FEAR OF DEATH were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
HEBREWS 13:5,6 – (Because God is with us, and helping us, we do not need to fear!)
DON’T FEAR BAD NEWS
PSALM 112:7-8 HE (the blessed) WILL NOT BE AFRAID OF EVIL TIDINGS (BAD NEWS); HIS HEART IS STEADFAST, TRUSTING IN THE LORD. HIS HEART IS ESTABLISHED; HE WILL NOT BE AFRAID, UNTIL HE SEES HIS DESIRE UPON HIS ENEMIES.
DON’T FEAR THE DARK
PSALM 3:5-6 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I WILL NOT BE AFRAID…
PSALM 91:5-7 You will NOT FEAR the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday…
Proverbs 3:23-26 – … when you like down, you will NOT BE AFRAID;… have NO FEAR of sudden disaster.
DON’T FEAR NATURAL CALAMITIES
PSALM 46:1-3 GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE EARTH BE REMOVED, AND THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE CARRIED INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA; THOUGH ITS WATERS ROAR AND BE TROUBLED, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS SHAKE WITH ITS SWELLING.
DON’T FEAR HARM
PSALM 91:9-12 – Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil (HARM) shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;…
PROVERBS 1:33 – …whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, WITHOUT FEAR OF HARM.
DON’T FEAR DEFEAT
2 CHRONICLES 20:15-17 – … The battle is not yours but God’s!… Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.. Do not be afraid or discouraged… the Lord will be with you!
2 KINGS 6:15-17 – …”those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
DON’T FEAR LACK OF PROVISION
God is JEHOVAH-JIREH, our provider! (Genesis 22:14)
I KINGS 17:9-14 – …the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord…
Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet (SUPPLY) all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
TEMPTATIONS TO FEAR
Matthew 14:26 – (fear of the unknown) when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit and they cried out for FEAR.
John 20:19 – (fear of persecution) …when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for FEAR of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst…
Matthew 8:26 – (fear of storms) …why are you FEARFUL, O you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:40 – (fear of perishing) And He said unto them, why are you so FEARFUL: How is it that you have no faith?
Luke 1:74… (fear of enemies) that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR.
‘NO FEAR’ ILLUSTRATIONS
ABRAHAM & ISAAC
GENESIS 15;1 – …the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, FEAR NOT, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward.
GENESIS 26:24 – (the Lord appeared unto Isaac)… I am the God of Abraham your father: FEAR NOT, for I am with you, and will bless you and multiply your seed…
THE LORD TOLD JOSHUA NOT TO FEAR, & JOSHUA TOLD THE PEOPLE NOT TO FEAR
Joshua 8:1 – The Lord said unto Joshua, FEAR NOT, neither be dismayed:…
Joshua 10:8,25 – …I have delivered them into your hand;… and Joshua said unto them, FEAR NOT, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom you fight.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 – Be strong and of a good courage, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID of the them: for the Lord your God, He it is that does go with you He will not fail you, nor forsake you…FEAR NOT, neither be dismayed.
Joshua 1:9 – Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; BE NOT AFRAID, neither dismayed for the Lord your God is with you whithersoever you go.
AT JESUS BIRTH, THE ANGEL SAID, “FEAR NOT”!
LUKE 2:10 – AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT: FOR, BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.
ENCOURAGE THE FEARFUL
ISAIAH 35:4 – SAY TO THOSE THAT ARE OF A FEARFUL HEART, “BE STRONG, DO NOT FEAR! BEHOLD, YOUR GOD WILL COME WITH VENGEANCE, WITH THE RECOMPENSE OF GOD; HE WILL COME AND SAVE YOU.”
JESUS SAYS, “FEAR NOT”!
Luke 12:7 … FEAR NOT THEREFORE: YOU ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.
Luke 12:32 – FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK; FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.
Mark 5:36 – … BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE.
Revelation 1:17-18 – AND HE LAID HIS RIGHT HAND UPON ME, SAYING UNTO ME, FEAR NOT; I .AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST: I AM HE THAT LIVES, AND WAS DEAD; AND, BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, AMEN; AND HAVE THE KEYS OF HELL AND OF DEATH.
BE BOLD WITNESSES
Isaiah 40:9 – O ZION… O JERUSALEM, THAT BRINGS GOOD TIDINGS, LIFT UP YOUR VOICE WITH STRENGTH; LIFT IT UP, BE NOT AFRAID; SAY UNTO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, BEHOLD YOUR GOD!
Jeremiah 1:8 – BE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR FACES: FOR I AM WITH YOU TO DELIVER YOU, SAYS THE LORD.
“I WILL NOT FEAR!”
Isaiah 12:2 – BEHOLD, GOD IS MY SALVATION; I WILL TRUST, AND NOT BE AFRAID: FOR THE LORD JEHOVAH IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG; HE ALSO IS BECOME MY SALVATION.
Hebrews 13:5-6 – …FOR HE HAS SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR FORSAKE YOU. SO THAT WE MAY BOLDLY SAY, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN SHALL DO UNTO ME”.
