What do you fear?  What do you dread?  Fear and dread are paralyzing.  These emotions can and do, at times, stop us in our tracks.   We sometimes cannot do what we know we should because or fear and dread.  Our will and our resolve can melt like wax, especially at times when we try to be faithful or obedient to our LORD. Fear and dread keep many from a full and healthy relationship with GOD.

The Bible has many examples of people who, succumbed to fear and dread.  When they let themselves be overwhelmed by these emotions they betrayed themselves and were not faithful or obedient to GOD.

Moses had been gone for some time. Aaron was the focus of the Israelites complaining.  Fear and dread worked their way over Aaron until he yielded to ungodly demands to fashion an idol.  Fear and dread enabled Aaron to be unfaithful to his GOD and his people and even himself.

Most of us know fear and dread as much as the biblical examples above.  Today as the world says "peace, peace" we only have to pick up a newspaper to see that all is not well on planet earth.all of a sudden fear and dread are there.  We want to trust GOD and take Him at His word.  We want to believe His promises.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

You and I know the foe equally well. We desire to take our God at His word, and we yearn to make the promises of GOD ours, but often the cunning adversary sows the seeds of doubt within our minds so that our best intentions dissolve in a sea of indecision.

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said. Genesis 3:1

"Hath God said"?  Indeed!  Somehow it is different in my case!  "What if!" and our peace of mind disappears like a wisp in the wind.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

We know we are to come to GOD when we need rest, but somehow fear and dread seem  like a pair of lead weights that threaten to drown us in a bottomless sea of anxiety and worry.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

The words on the page tell us that GOD has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind but somehow, still, fear invades our very soul.

Fear of failure

Fear of ridicule

Fear of rejection

Fear of change

Fear of darkness

Fear of crowds

Fear of financial loss

Fear of terrorism

Fear of death

Fear of.

The list can be endless. Fear and dread squeeze out the joy from our lives.  When that happens guilt and despair are free to join the party. Guilt and despair are partners of fear and dread.  What a quartet!

Fear and dread have a merciless enemy that stands with drawn sword to protect against the ravages of fear and dread. Its name is Faith. Its source is the Word of the Holy GOD. Faith drives out fear and dread.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

If we can but saturate our minds in such promises, then the quartet of fear, dread, guilt and despair are powerless to harm us!  You may ask yourself, does God exist now, right this very second? Is GOD there?  Did he create all things?  Can I believe Him?  Does He care about me? Can I trust Him?  Can I have faith in Him? The answer is the same to all the questions.Yes, yes, Yes, YES, Yes , YES , YES!

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:20-22

Trust and joy are inseparable.  Trust in the LORD and rejoice!

Do you fear and dread the future?  Does the prospect of a bankrupt economy, loss of employment, the war, weapons of mass destruction, famine, and pestilences bring fear and dread to your soul?  Do not fear do not dread.have faith in GOD.  He is there.

When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; Isaiah 57:13

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Peter was not always fearful and in despair.  Jesus was dismissing the people He had just ministered to and had sent His disciples on across the lake.  A storm came up and threatened the security of the boat.  Fear and dread engulfed the disciples, but Jesus came to them, walking on the water.  Peter, forgetting his fear and dread, walked to the LORD, on the water.  Only when he became afraid did he begin to sink.  However, Peter, called to his LORD for safety.  Jesus immediately took his hand and stated "O thou of little faith, why dist thou doubt"?  What would you do if Jesus asked you to come to him on the water?  What choice would you make? How much faith would you have?  Really... be honest?  Think about it!

Examine the Psalm below, meditate on it precepts and let the faith of GOD fill the very pores of your soul and heal your fears and dreads.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.  The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.  Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.   For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.  For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.  e righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.  Te mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.  The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.  The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.  But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.  Psalm 37

Faith banishes fear! Let us all saturate our minds in the promises of God, immerse our hearts in the faith that guards from fear and dread, and place our plans in the hands of the One who upholds the universe with a Word.