Ministry

Fear is a Liar

Last week the Student Ministry Team lead the message at the Connected Schools Worship Service. They did a drama set to a song called ‘Fear is a Liar.’ In the drama the students looked at four different fears that teenagers face – self image, everyday struggles, not being accepted and expectations. These are lies that are fed to us by the world, and we shouldn’t be listening to these voices. Rather we should be listening to what God tells us, that you are beautiful; you are carried; you belong; you are enough.

Fear is an extremely real and crippling emotion and something that I am sure all of us are familiar with.

When we discussed this theme with the Student Ministry Team we asked them for verses that they knew around Fear. They found some really comforting verses around the idea of Fear. 

Some of these included:

"So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6) 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) 

In fact, one of the students told me that FEAR NOT is mentioned in the Bible 365 times. That is one FEAR NOT for every day of the year! God doesn’t want us to go a single day without hearing His word of comfort.

Self image, expectations, everyday struggles and not being accepted might not be the fears that you experience in your life, but whatever fear you are dealing with, God wants you to share it with Him and to ‘cast that fear in the fire’ – as the song said.

We might think that we have the resources to deal with any problem that we come across. Maybe you live wholly on God’s power, but we tend to live as if our efforts and our knowledge are what will get us through.

When we face a situation, we can’t control we realise that we can’t rescue ourselves from our deepest fears. We can’t preserve our health. We can’t redeem our reputation. We can’t reconcile our broken relationships. We can’t save ourselves from sin. We can only depend on the grace and power of God. 

As powerful as fear is. God’s grace in Christ is far more powerful.

Psalm 56 says 

When I am afraid,

I will trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,

In God I trust; I will not be afraid.

Eve Ormsby

Youth Worker