“Do you want to be like [Sarah]? Then do what is right. And don’t give in to fear” (1 Peter 3:6, NIrV).
The other day, fear tried to steal my peace. Has this ever happened to you? You had the most amazing time with God. It was a “mountain top experience,” full of His beautiful, glorious presence. You are soaring. And then, just like that, boom. Fear knocks. The dark clouds of adverse circumstance gather overhead. Your heart recoils.
Does that indescribable peace that comes from Him have to be short-lived? Does the next hard knock of life have to steal it away? What do we do when fear shows up on our doorstep?
Today’s verse gives us a vitally important answer. We don’t have to give in to fear. Yes, fear will come. THE most repeated command in Scripture is, “Do not fear.” This is because fear is THE most common tactic of the enemy. The beautiful news is, we honestly and truly can learn to live above fear. A fearless life really is within reach.
Don’t give in to fear. Ask Daddy God to sharpen your discernment, to quickly recognize when that sinking feeling in your emotions is actually a spiritual attack trying to steal your peace. And receive this truth in your spirit: you don’t have to open the door.
You don’t have to let fear in. Leave fear out in the cold. Ignore its insistent knock. Rather than opening the latch, snuggle deeper into Daddy’s embrace. Tune into His strong, steady heartbeat. He’s got you. He’s got your future. And He’s got the perfect plan worked out ahead of time to deal with whatever that adverse circumstance is that fear has dragged onto your doorstep. He is Faithful and True, and He will do it.
If your soul has gotten temporarily flustered by fear’s knock, do not worry. Do not give into condemnation about it either. Rather, simply look up again into the eyes of the One who loves you more than His life. Climb back into His waiting arms. Then gently remind yourself, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Ps. 116:7, ESV).
Direct your soul back to its resting place in His bosom. Marinate in the memory of His habitual, relentless, bountiful kindness to you. Intentionally direct your focus to His immense goodness and powerful, unfailing care of everything that pertains to you. Get lost in His love.
After a while, you will realize that fear got tired of knocking. You peek out the window, and all you can see is a brilliant rainbow breaking through those dark clouds!
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Do you have any tips to share for living life fearlessly?
Feeding On Jesus 
Loved that final statement “After a while, you will realize that fear got tired of knocking. You peek out the window, and all you can see is a brilliant rainbow breaking through those dark clouds!I felt this post, Yes fear does try to steal my peace sometimes. But returning my soul to his rest always helps. After all God is greater than all our fears🙏🏽
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Saron, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. It brings me joy to know that this one spoke to your heart in an encouraging way. May the Holy Spirit flood you with HIs supernatural peace today and always!
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I can’t tell you how many times I have had a mountain-top experience at church that was ruined by an argument before we ever got out of the parking lot. Looking back, it sadness me that I let the evil one steal my joy in those moments. Over the years I have learned to say, out loud, “in the name of Jesus, leave this place NOW”. IT WORKS!!
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Wow, Barb, that is so powerful! I am going to keep that in mind. While taking authority over the enemy is a familiar concept, the specific way you have shared about doing so builds me up. Thank you so much! (The late reply is because I was on vacation for the last couple weeks — had preprogrammed the devos that came out during that time on my site. I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving!)
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Yes, I did. Thanks
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I’m so glad! 🙂 ❤
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It is so hard to balance living in the human world with spiritual well-being. Tools for navigating that always needed!
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You are absolutely right, my friend. The task God has given us is inexpressibly challenging. How we desperately need His tools, help, wisdom, guidance, and empowering every day! I am profoundly grateful that He generously provides all that we need to keep moving forward. Thank you so much for your comment! (Slow reply because I was on vacation 🙂 )
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I have experienced the mountain top experience and then felt like I dropped like a heavy stone with something like fear or irritation occupying my mind.
Recently I have noticed the enemy always trying to get us as a family annoyed for some silly reason just as we are about to leave to church on Sunday. It really shifts where our heart is at and it takes me a while to get to a place where I am steeped in worship rather than just physically participating.
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Boy, can I relate to that, my sister! I am absolutely confident that the exact same thing has happened to all of us. The enemy is so strategic with the timing of his fiery darts. I pray that He infuses you with strength, encouragement, and hope in the battles you face! Thank you so much for sharing from your own journey, I am truly grateful for that. (My reply is late because I was traveling for several weeks. I hope you had a very special Thanksgiving!)
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Yes, despite many fears throughout my life, He has always been right there for me, when I’ve gone looking for His hiding place. It is the title of my Fairy Tale – His Hiding Place x
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Thank You, Father, for being our hiding place!
Is that an actual story you wrote?
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yes, lovely, Jennifer. One I wrote a couple of weeks ago. https://dawnfanshawe.wordpress.com/2020/11/17/the-secret-den/
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I am so very, very glad you let me know about it! ❤ ❤
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Thank you, all through life as we journey through the hills and valleys the enemy tries to instill ‘fear’ to destroy our peace. Face it and deal with it. Not ever easy , but He has promised to never leave us and sometimes we may need to shout this Promise to the sky and thank HIM.X
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Yes! What a wonderful key you have shared, Faye! Shouting out His faithfulness and/or singing about it to Him at the top of our voices is an amazingly powerful way to get fear to turn tail and run! Thank you so much for sharing this!
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I love the concept that fear knocks and we have the choice to open the door or not. Something that helps me is to always keep in mind that my thoughts don’t have to be who I am. When a fearful thoughts comes up, it helps me to think, or even say out loud, “I’m having the thought that such and such will happen.” Then I am able to let that thought go as I give it to the Lord and let other thoughts replace it. Something about doing this minimizes the power of the thought and reminds me that, as a human, I will have fearful thoughts, but that doesn’t mean I have to believe them. Thanks for the post!!
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Jess, I was reading your wise words, thinking I had heard someone share that with me before, and then realized it was you! ( my own daughter 😂) As a child, you spoke peace into difficult situations, and I love that God is now giving you so many opportunities to do so as an adult. ♥️
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AMEN, Lindsey!!
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Love you momma! 💜
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Huh, wow, I never heard this tip before. Thank you so much, Jessica! I am adding it to my list, so grateful that you shared it! (Slow reply because I was traveling)
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We can only control the controllables. How we act and speak to others. How other people react to this is their responsibility. We must point out injustice and poor behaviour when we see it, but from a place of love. When we feel the urge to react with anger or frustration, it can be fear that we have not being heard or understood. Lean into God’s peace and He will steer us onto the right path.
Thank you. ♥
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Soooo good, dear Hamish. Amen and amen! Father, lead our feet into the paths of peace!
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