65. 2022 and 7 Solutions for Fear of the New Year
Episode 65
2022 is here. Will it be better than 2021 or 2020? Or will it be worse? When fear of the future overwhelms our souls, there is really only one solution. It is remembering what the Lord has already done. This episode reveals 7 specific truths to remember to combat fear and walk in victory no matter what 2022 holds.
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Show Notes
God hasn’t fixed our problems. Maybe it feels like when Jesus was sleeping through the storm– hey Jesus- are you aware of what is happening?
Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
They started afraid of the storm and wound up filled with great fear of Jesus. I believe we all need to have proper fear of God, but this is something else entirely.
I’ve been learning about fear from a little book written by a Puritan in the late 1600’s.
Triumphing over Sinful Fear, by John Flavel
One of the things he attributes earthly fear to is UNBELIEF.
“Unbelief is the real and proper cause of most distracting and afflicting fears. To the extent that our souls are empty of faith, they are filled with fear.” -John Flavel
This challenges me. Now let me say, guilt will only fuel fear, so I’m not beating myself up here for my fear. I don’t want you to start feeling guilty over feeling fear.
Our enemy is expert at manipulating our FEELINGS to drive us to distraction and disobedience.
I want to IDENTIFY the FEAR for what it is and the UNBELIEF that feeds it. Why feed the weed of fear when it is so much better to yank it out by the roots?
So: To the extent that our souls are empty of faith, they are filled with fear.
Then: how do we fill our souls with faith to combat the fear? And what do we need to have faith in? That things will work out? Or that COVID will go away?
Put your big girl pants on: we need to Saint-up and walk in our scary world with all of its problems that may never go away, and could very well get worse, without the burden of earthly fears strangling us.
We aren’t the first:
For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn--fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, - 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 ESV
When Jonah is in the big fish, his solution is to remember the Lord.
Jonah 2:7 ESV - When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
To get filled with faith that will drive out the fear, I MUST REMEMBER
Lamentations 3:21-26 ESV -
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
CALL TO MIND - REMEMBER: 7 SOLUTIONS FOR FEAR
1.REMEMBER: Jesus is in the storm with us.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
2. REMEMBER: Jesus helps us, even if problems remain
fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ... For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." - Isaiah 41:10, 13 ESV
3. REMEMBER: Jesus, Prince of Peace, promises us peace IN THE STORM.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. - John 14:27 ESV
4. REMEMBER: Jesus, and His Word, are so much more powerful than any human or problem.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? - Psalm 56:3-4 ESV
5. REMEMBER: Jesus knows my needs and provides for them.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:30-31, 33-34 ESV
6. REMEMBER: Solution for fear: rejoice in Jesus and pray about everything.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ... do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:4, 6 ESV
7. REMEMBER: Jesus and the Word provide our defense
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1 ESV
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 ESV
2022 may be worse. The clouds may darken, the winds may howl, the rain may turn to driving sleet. But REMEMBER- Jesus is with us every second of 2022, so confident of His Father’s care that He sleeps, full of faith rather than fear.
He is with us in 2022, ready to teach us to do the same.
NEW BOOK: Putting Jesus On
Discover the truth of Jesus’s promises, your enemy’s lies, and how to walk confidently in your God-given identity.Our enemy wants us to live naked, regretful, ashamed, and fearful. No wonder we struggle with a lack of joy and peace.
Jesus, on the other hand, offers us glorious attire. He gifts us a rich identity that helps us understand our circumstances so that we can clothe ourselves in joy and peace. When we wrap ourselves in the identity Jesus provides, we stand ready and willing to follow where He leads.
We have a choice every day. Are we going to put on Jesus and wear the identity He gives you? Or are we going to leave that precious wardrobe in the closet in exchange for the shabby rags the world offers?
This devotional gives you the ability to put Jesus on every day, living as He designed you to live.