When I was a kid, there were a couple of years I was bullied. Older and bigger, he beat me often enough to make me dread the walk home from the bus stop. To my relief, he transferred to a different school, and I didn’t see him again until high school.
When I did run into him again, we both could see I was now taller and stronger than he. As I looked down into his eyes, all he could say was, “Wow. You grew up.”
That’s what the enemy of your soul fears most: in spite of all his attacks, you’ll look him in the face with the certainty of who you are in Christ. His nightmare is you’ll keep growing in your relationship with God, strengthening yourself in him, and becoming more confident, peaceful, joyful, and powerful every day. He’s terrified you’ll stop running from fear, and realize you already have authority over every fear Jesus has overcome. And that’s all of them.
Fear will hound you with what could go wrong until it’s all you can see.
Fear will hide you in an emotional panic room until you’re unable to trust anyone.
Fear will pressure you with stress, worry, and despair until you let go of any peace, joy, and hope you’re holding onto.
But.
Fear can be kicked out at any time by agreeing with one word from God.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up” (Isaiah 41:10a).
“I’m giving you a gift—peace of mind and heart, a kind of peace the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Equip Your Spirit 