Scripture to Read: Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Timothy 1:7, Matthew 6:25-34
Fear can paralyze us, render us completely ineffective, and take us completely out of the fight. Fear is one of the enemy's most powerful weapons used against us. If we aren't careful, fear will consume our lives and we will view everything in our world in a spirit of disbelief, rather than a spirit of peace and hope.
It is easy to feel like things are outside of our control in such a chaotic world. We turn on the news and see nothing but crime, death, tragedy, conspiracy, and war. Often times, we respond in one of two ways. One, we worry and fear. We dwell on the things that are outside of our control, instead of focusing on the things we can control. More importantly, we lose sight of focusing on our sovereign God who does control all things. When we take this route it is easy to lose hope.
Secondly, we often respond by deceiving ourselves. We become convinced that we are strong enough to overcome the darkness on our own or that trouble will never come our way. Lying to ourselves is actually a product of fear. We exchange actual reality for a self-fabricated fable.
Thankfully, our Creator offers to fight the battle for us. He is with us in the muck, and can give us a miraculous strength and peace that gives us joy, even in the midst of a storm.
In The Chaser, Julius shares his life verse with his friend Dex, who is struggling with anxiety and fear. Julius shares Isaiah 41:10. It serves as a reminder that God offers strength and a reason to not live in constant worry.
Truthfully, Julius also walks in a world of fear. His fear is manifested most through his own self-deception. He assumed that he could overcome his problems through his own strength, but eventually discovered that he needed God's help. Julius had a series of nightmares that revolved around seeing a train. The train was a representation of a truth in Julius' life. Instead of facing the truth, Julius feared it and tried to hide from it.
As a reminder of God's available help, there are two different moments in the story in which Julius is facing a fearful scene and a friend shows up to help and says, "I am right behind you."
God wants us to know that He is with us. God wants us to operate without fear. He knows that if we don't worry, our focus will be where it needs to be--His Kingdom. When our focus is on His Kingdom, we become great warriors in the battle for truth and beacons of light for the gospel.
It is easy to feel like things are outside of our control in such a chaotic world. We turn on the news and see nothing but crime, death, tragedy, conspiracy, and war. Often times, we respond in one of two ways. One, we worry and fear. We dwell on the things that are outside of our control, instead of focusing on the things we can control. More importantly, we lose sight of focusing on our sovereign God who does control all things. When we take this route it is easy to lose hope.
Secondly, we often respond by deceiving ourselves. We become convinced that we are strong enough to overcome the darkness on our own or that trouble will never come our way. Lying to ourselves is actually a product of fear. We exchange actual reality for a self-fabricated fable.
Thankfully, our Creator offers to fight the battle for us. He is with us in the muck, and can give us a miraculous strength and peace that gives us joy, even in the midst of a storm.
In The Chaser, Julius shares his life verse with his friend Dex, who is struggling with anxiety and fear. Julius shares Isaiah 41:10. It serves as a reminder that God offers strength and a reason to not live in constant worry.
Truthfully, Julius also walks in a world of fear. His fear is manifested most through his own self-deception. He assumed that he could overcome his problems through his own strength, but eventually discovered that he needed God's help. Julius had a series of nightmares that revolved around seeing a train. The train was a representation of a truth in Julius' life. Instead of facing the truth, Julius feared it and tried to hide from it.
As a reminder of God's available help, there are two different moments in the story in which Julius is facing a fearful scene and a friend shows up to help and says, "I am right behind you."
God wants us to know that He is with us. God wants us to operate without fear. He knows that if we don't worry, our focus will be where it needs to be--His Kingdom. When our focus is on His Kingdom, we become great warriors in the battle for truth and beacons of light for the gospel.
Discussion Questions: What are some things that you fear? How can you place more trust in God to cast out that fear?
What does Philippians 4:6-7 mean when it says that when we pray to God, the "peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"?
Jennifer followed Julius when he began fearfully walking towards train tracks near his former home in Texas. Randy followed after Julius when Julius was trying to chase down a distraught and suicidal Dexter McKay. In both instances, Julius' friends ensured him of their support by saying "I'm right behind you." They wanted to calm Julius' fears. In what ways does God calm our fears? Why is it important to remember that He is with us?
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