Oppressed by fear

[Chrysostom]

We have heard your honest cry and we are praying for you. Thank you for sharing so openly about the weight of fear and social anxiety and the pain of past trauma. You are not alone in this struggle, and God sees both your desire to fear Him above all and the oppression you feel when fear of man still rises up.

Scripture tells us clearly what you have already quoted, that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind, from 2 Timothy 1:7. That promise is true, and it is also true that anxiety can feel like a daily scourging that leaves us trembling and worn down. The Lord knows how fear can keep the heart in constant unrest, and He desires to bring you into security and liberty in Christ.

To fear God is not to live in dread, but to live aware that He is present, He hears, He sees, and He is near to help. When we remember that we stand before a gracious King who is also our Father, that holy awareness steadies us. It teaches us to turn from the fear of what people think and to rest in what God thinks of us in Christ. As you keep your eyes on Him, He will work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure, as Philippians says. You do not have to deliver yourself by your own strength. God Himself is at work in you, giving you power to stand, love to cast out fear, and a sound mind to find peace.

We are praying for you now.

Father in heaven, we lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. You know the trauma that has wounded the heart and the fear that now oppresses daily life. We ask for Your deliverance. Loose the chains of fear, worry and anxiety. Fill this heart with Your perfect love that casts out fear. Grant power where there is weakness, love where there is shame, and a sound and steady mind where there is turmoil. Teach this soul to fear You in reverence and trust, and to find rest from the fear of man. Bring healing to past wounds, calm to anxious thoughts, and courage to face each day and each gathering with others. Surround this life with Your peace that passes all understanding and guard heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Help this one to walk in daily dependence on You through prayer, through Your Word, and through fellowship with faithful believers. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Continue to bring every anxious thought to God in prayer, casting all your care on Him because He cares for you, as 1 Peter 5:7 says. Meditate daily on His promises, such as Psalm 34:4, Isaiah 41:10, and Philippians 4:6 and 7, and let His Word renew your mind. Walk closely with other believers who can encourage you, pray with you, and bear your burden. If the effects of trauma remain very heavy, please also consider seeking wise pastoral counsel and trusted help from a biblical counselor in your local church so you are not carrying this alone.

We will continue to pray that the Lord lifts this oppression, strengthens you with His power, and fills you with His peace. Keep seeking Him, for He is faithful and He will not leave you.

 

[Silas]

Your honest sharing about being oppressed by fear and social anxiety is heard, and the Lord sees the weight you carry from past trauma. It is right that you desire to fear God rather than people, and it is understandable that knowing this in your mind has not yet fully freed you, because the heart is deeper than thoughts and emotions alone. The heart is the center of the will, and God works at that deeper level. There is a difference between believing something in the mind and trusting it in the heart, and the Lord wants to bring His truth into that inner place.

Scripture says God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Fear and faith cannot rule together. Fear is an enemy of faith and often pushes us to act in wrong ways. When fear grips the heart it is often because we have for a moment forgotten the presence and power of the Lord with us. The call is to remember Him, that He is with you, He comforts you, and He will give you strength. He is at work in the life of His child even when you are not aware of it, and the spirit within you is like a lamp that He searches and knows. He understands the inward parts of your struggle.

The Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning and the sum of true knowledge and wisdom. It is not a cowering dread or a phobia, but a reverent awe as you consider who God is, His greatness, power and holiness. That awe is the foundation for a wise life. To fear the Lord in this way is to hate evil and to turn away from it, and that turning brings life. By reverence for the Lord, people depart from evil, and that reverence tends to life and to quiet satisfaction, kept safe from evil, because God Himself cares for those who reverence Him. There is no lack for those who live in that trust, and He encamps around those who fear Him.

In contrast, the fear of man is a trap. Wanting to please people, worrying over their opinions, being afraid to say no, can snare you. Many are drawn by that pressure into things they know are not right. Scripture warns not to be afraid of man who is mortal and whose life is like grass that is here today and gone tomorrow. Jesus said not to fear those who can harm the body but have no power over the soul, but to give that deeper reverence to God. Whoever puts trust in the Lord will be safe.

That trust grows as you quietly think on God. Through meditating on His greatness and His promises, reverent awe deepens and wisdom increases. Without that meditation we remain shallow, but with it we become grounded.

So bring this fear to Him in honest prayer and ask Him to replace the spirit of fear with His power, love and clear mind. Ask Him to teach your heart to trust Him more fully than any human opinion. When anxious thoughts rise, pause and remember the Lord and His nearness, and ask Him to help you walk in that reverence that leads away from evil and toward peace.

I pray for you now. Father, in the name of Jesus I lift up this dear one who feels oppressed by fear, worry and anxiety. You see the trauma and the social fear that weighs so heavily. I ask that You deliver from this spirit of fear and fill the heart with Your power, Your love and a sound mind. Teach a deeper reverence for You that breaks the trap of fearing people. Heal the wounded places, guard the heart and mind, and help trust in You to grow stronger. Let there be rest and confidence in knowing You are near and that those who trust You are safe. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.