The Antidote: The Key to Curing Your Fear

Jerusha: I’m excited to welcome podcaster and writer, Amy Watson, to the blog today! Let’s give her a big Fear Warrior community welcome!

By Amy Watson

I know all the Biblical stories of providential provision and protection, and you probably do too. But I am still fearful that the God of the universe has changed His mind.

What if I am wrong and He isn’t the same God, what if He pulls back on His promises, and leaves me fending for myself in an unkind world?

Why do I insist on holding God to human standards? Why do we all do that?

The question is certainly worthy of evaluation as we work out our faith, trusting in the Word of God that is living and active in us.

If we can hold fast to this truth—His faithful presence in our lives—His love will explode from our hearts and fear will be left impotent.

What could happen then? We could shout from the mountain tops so that a fear-filled world could know the peace that only comes from the God of the universe and remembering what He has ALREADY done!

At the time of this writing (fall of 2020) every single person on this planet has a reason to be fearful. For many of us, fighting fear is an uphill battle. The propensity to live in fear seems to be our default versus remembering all that God has done for us.

Forgetting God’s track record is not uncommon. We see it throughout scripture, we know the children of Israel had daily provisions of manna, a cloud to protect them by day and a fire to guide them by night, yet they were still afraid. They often took matters in their own hands, and it did not go well for them, as we know.

Sound familiar? It certainly does to me. For me, forgetting God and “handling” my fears myself is not without conflict. Conflict promotes more fear.

I don’t want to be fearful; I have seen God’s provision in my life over and over and am reminded of this verse:

Above all, fear the Lord faithfully and worship Him with all of your heart, considering all the great things He has done for you. – I Samuel 12:24

The Antidote for Fear

I would submit remembering the faithfulness of God is an antidote for fear. But remembering is hard, either because the squeaky wheel of our fears hijacks our attention, or we refuse to step into the accountability that is remembering all that He has already done for us. Such accountability requires obedience; it requires bravery; and it requires an unwavering commitment to keep the promises of God in front of us.

Obedience in the face of fear is uncomfortable.

We are not called to be comfortable; we are called to be courageous.

After Moses died, Joshua was “on deck” to finish the job–to guide the children to the promise land. He was terrified, and God helped him remember (twice) not to be afraid.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. – Joshua 1:9

Proceeding this verse, God instructs Joshua how to remember His promises. God gives him a road map for courage. The first, keep the laws of Moses and the second, being careful not to let the “book of the law” ever leave his lips.

Essentially, God was saying “feast on my Word, all the time.”

This, my friends, is how we use our memories as the antidote of fear.

Throwing God’s words back at fear renders fear powerless.

Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. – Joshua 1:5

Our God is the same God as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the same God with the same powers, with the same love for His people. Those people are you, that person is me.

Be encouraged and seek to remember! Remind fear of its impotence in the presence of God. Feast on His word like God instructed Joshua and find freedom in the absence of paralyzing fear.

These are transactions you will have to repeat, but in that refrain is precious communion with the One Who loves you the most.

Remember. Just remember.

Do you fear God might leave you or not keep His promises? How does remembering what God’s done combat your fear?

Photos by Debby Hudson, Aaron Burden, and Priscilla du Pree. Original graphics designed by Christen Krumm.

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I am a lover of Jesus, words, people, and any time I can have all of those things at one time! I am originally from Jacksonville, Florida but have spent the majority of my life on Florida’s west coast. I am a career entrepreneur, an author, podcaster, sister, friend, aunt and all the things. But more than all of that, I am the daughter of the Most High God.

I am a survivor of thirty-five years of trauma, and am watching God’s promises fulfilled as many of the years the locusts have stolen are being restored as God is showing me that there is such purpose in pain. It is amazing to watch it happen right in front of my eyes!

Currently, I am working on a memoir. En route to completion of that difficult task, I needed an outlet for creativity and I could not find it on the keyboard. But, I found it behind the Mic and the podcast Wednesdays With Watson was born. I am a huge proponent of the writing community in general, but especially the Christian writing community. I believe that words matter and so I will spend my life using them to remind people that they matter!

Connect with Amy on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on her podcast, Wednesdays with Watson.

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Check out Amy’s podcast!

Wednesdays with Watson, Season 1

PTSD, Jesus, and Me

There is much stigma to mental health issues in America and in the world. It is, perhaps, the most overlooked healthcare issue in society today.

However, when we choose to address it and surround ourselves with people who refuse to let us ignore it, there IS healing and there IS Hope.

Listen HERE.