Fear: A Silver Lining.

“The only thing we have to fear, is but fear itself...”

President Franklin Roosevelt said this on March 4, 1933. The reason why is because of the financial problems with the whole nation during the Great Depression. During those sad times, many died in the inside before their physical body deteriorated.

Fear is a real problem during these days. Many are controlled by the fear of hunger, family and social life. Even in the midst of all of the negativities of fear, like weakness, lack of friendship, insecurity, there are high points about
it also.

For one thing, it says in Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What does that mean? It’s kind of like being a child and parent. To “fear” your parent is to give them high respect, so that you don’t fear them. Same with God.

Except for one thing

We should fear God. Let’s say you had a very grim and solemn faced pastor or youth leader. You would slightly fear him, wouldn’t you? Well this is God, Elohim, the Great I AM. He’s God! Of course we should fear him; it also says about fear of the Lord in Proverbs 28:14, “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”(ESV.)

But, there are also ways not to have fear. For it says in II Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”(The Message.)

That means that we can’t fear something with irrational fear. Which means, the only thing we should fear is God and we should fear him with respect.

In conclusion, I believe that we should indeed fear, not with the fear of worry or fright, but love and respect in only one thing:

God.