Living with Fear and Not in Fear

I was recently asked to review the book, She Writes for Him: Stories of Living Hope, and I came across a quote that I can’t shake. Carole Leathem writes, “Learn to live with fear, not in fear.” I can’t tell you how many times I have talked with people who believe all fear is bad. While anxiety can be crippling for some, a little anxiety may actually be a good thing.

(By the way, I do recommend She Writes for Him. It is filled with encouraging testimonies of God’s faithfulness.)

Think about the butterflies (or stomach cramps) you get before speaking in front of a crowd. What about the tingle in your belly before you get on a roller coaster? These can be normal anxiety — and in some case can actually cause us to perform better. Pastors who speak week after week often mention feeling nervous as they approach the pulpit; I believe this is to keep them humble and dependent on the Holy Spirit. I was always anxious before a test, but this led me to study more often. Not all anxiety is negative.

The key is learning to live with fear and not in fear. When we live in fear, we are consumed. We focus on either our circumstances or on the fear itself. Living with fear acknowledges the worry, but surrenders it to the Lord. When we live with fear, we make a conscious decision to trust the Lord with our fears. “In” empowers fear. “With” diffuses it.

I don’t mean to oversimplify anxiety, as many need counseling to learn coping skills to reduce anxious symptoms, while others may need medication. Regardless, we can all benefit from learning to trust God more with the things that worry us the most. If our fear drives us to Christ, is it possible God is using it to build our faith and our character?

What is keeping you up at night? Cry out to God and trust him. He is the one in control — let us surrender our fears to him.