The Spirit of Fear

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7

What is the spirit of fear? Where does it come from? How do you know if you are dealing with the spirit of fear?

We have clearly established in early devotionals that godly fear can be our friend. It can be a tool to protect us and keep us from harm. It can provide us with wisdom and cause us to put guardrails in place–to ensure that we do not shipwreck God’s plan for our lives. There is one type of fear, however, that the Bible warns us against; it is called the “spirit of fear.” This fear is designed to keep us from fulfilling our destiny, to make us timid, and to cause us to flee from opportunities that God places before us. The source of this fear is the devil.

The spirit of fear is not our friend. It is not from God. 

After reminding Timothy of the gift of God within him, and the call upon his life, Paul goes on to state that God has not given him the “spirit of fear.” What is the spirit of fear? The spirit of fear is an overwhelming emotional sense of danger that is not based on reality, but fueled by past experiences or imagined negative consequences. This fear is often fueled by facts but devoid of faith. It is irrational, unpredictable and demonic. This fear causes us to cower, freeze, and ultimately, to give in to the enemy. It takes away our confidence and makes us forget our one true authority and identity. It causes us to become timid and deny the power of God.

The spirit of fear has one objective; to stop us from fulfilling our destiny. 

Consider a time when the “spirit of fear” has reared it’s ugly head in your life. For most people, it’s not hard to recall examples! This sort of fear appears when we are considering pursuing a major project or assignment, a key employee threatens to leave, an investor considers pulling an investment, a competitor threatens to slander or sue, or a customer threatens to flee. This fear appears when the government threatens to fine us (or in some cases, even take us to prison) when we stand our ground for Christ and His righteousness. These examples also remind us that fear often stems from the imagined consequence of disconnection and shame. This fear is designed to cause us to fall into compromise–to give in and fit into the world’s expectations. It makes us weak, fragile, and faithless. But how do you know if you have succumbed to the spirit of fear?

You will know that you have given in to the spirit of fear when a decision you made did not give you peace, but rather made you feel safe. 

Yikes. What now, you ask? Even if you become aware of a decision made in the spirit of fear, you still might not have the courage to challenge it. You may believe that your “safe” decision is a smart or humble one. You may not believe that God can see you through. That is the real danger with the spirit of fear!

The spirit of fear makes you weak, not meek. It is not from God. 

“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

Is it possible to simply be bold and avoid fear altogether? Brené Brown, a researcher who has studied issues related to fear and shame for over a decade, says “no.” Brown claims, “As long as people are hardwired for connection, the fear of disconnection [shame] will always be a reality.” The spirit of fear is rooted in a fear of Man, rather than a healthy and reverent fear of God. When we give in to the spirit of fear, we allow the enemy to convince us that we are “not enough” to truly succeed or belong if we pursue our destiny. Yes, the spirit of fear will always exist, because it is the devil’s tool to intimidate you into “belonging” in the “world,” rather than claiming your right as co-heir with Christ.

In Christ, we are fully known and fully loved–so we will always belong. 

“Owning our story can be hard, but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it…not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” -Brené Brown

My prayer for you is that God will give you the wisdom to recognize the spirit of fear and the boldness to resist it.