Encouragement

---

“Perfect love casts out all fear.”(1 John 4:18)

Have you ever been apprehensive about an alarming situation? Have you felt your heart race in dread of something you would prefer to avoid ? Have you felt the butterflies fluttering in your stomach? Have you ever felt tongue tied in the presence of daunting personalities or defenseless when someone attacks you with their harsh biting words?. Have you felt weighed down by deadlines which robbed your inner peace and joy? Have you felt that you are shooting in the dark with no clue as to what the end result will be? Have you felt fear so great that you are no longer in control?

There is no longer any reason to be afraid. The Secret formula to overcome fear was given by the Lord Himself.

I discovered this one morning when my spirits were so low at the prospect of a grueling day ahead and I was apprehensive of what the day might bring.
I looked to the sky for an answer and in an instant, this line hit me like a thunderbolt. “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” (2 Timothy 1:7) I held on to this line literally like a lifeline.
It not only helped me to go through the day with an astonishing confidence but somehow I no longer felt the pressure of the outcome. I was filled with an inner courage.

There are times when we are sure we will be unable to say the proper words for an appropriate situation yet the spirit speaks and puts the words into our mouths.

Jesus fortified the apostles when he sent them out on their ministry with these words; “ Do not be worried about how you will defend yourself or what you will say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke ( 12:11-12); “The spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you.”(John 15:15)

I can only surmise that it was the same spirit which made the apostles bold and fearless; they were ready to be persecuted and martyred.
We look at the lives of the early martyrs; St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Stephen and so many others.

When Daniel had to spend the night in the lion’s den, the spirit made him bold enough and shut the lion’s mouths so that they could not hurt him.
Even when the early Christians were thrown to the lions, they went forth bravely chanting the name of Jesus even while they were succumbing to their fate.

All this did not end there. Even today, we have so many missionaries being persecuted and martyred for their faith. Yet, they are bold enough to be a witness to Christ knowing fully well that the price for their lives is freedom as a child of God in the heavenly paradise. They prefer to lose their lives in this temporary world to gain much more in eternal life.

We are the spirit bearing people. Let us always cling to the valiant spirit and draw from its indulgences; the virtues of bravery, strength and might in the face of any situation.

When Jesus breathed His spirit on the apostles before His ascension into Heaven, He told them; “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)

Let us claim this power which is the only true power that we need. And not be intimidated by any unnerving situation.
Let us life the haze of fear and don the mantle of valor.

Maria Franco

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE