Fear and dread
For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. ~ Job 3:25
This is a sobering thought, can the things we deeply fear and dread actually come upon us? According to Job, it seems they can.
Fear is not just an emotion; it can become a powerful spiritual force. Just as faith draws us toward God’s promises, fear can pull us toward the very things we want to avoid. Job, though righteous and upright, reveals a vulnerable truth: he was deeply afraid that something bad would happen to his children, so much so that he regularly offered sacrifices on their behalf, just in case they had sinned. That level of anxiety shows how consumed he was with dread.
In Job’s case, there were spiritual forces at work that he could not see, but there are some vital things we can take away from his experience. When we constantly focus on what could go wrong, we begin to give more power to fear than to faith. Fear grows where our focus lingers and faith grows when we dwell on our relationship with God remember His promises.
So how do we combat fear and instead walk in faith?
- Replace fear with truth.
Identify specific fears and search out Bible verses that speak God’s promises into that area. Speak those promises daily. For example, if you’re afraid of lack, speak Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.” - Guard your thoughts.
When fear-based thoughts come up, don’t entertain them. Capture them (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace them with words of faith. - Speak life, not fear.
Even if you’re feeling anxious, resist the urge to speak dread over your life. Instead, declare hope and God’s faithfulness. Our words have creative power. - Journal and pray.
Write out your fears, surrender them to God, and ask Him to help you trust Him more deeply in those areas. - Surround yourself with truth.
Listen to worship music, sermons, or podcasts that stir your faith. Fear often grows in isolation, but faith is stirred up in community.
Today I want to encourage you that even though fear is loud, faith can be louder when you let it. You may feel like Job, overwhelmed by things outside your control, but remember: God did not abandon Job, and He won’t abandon you. He is your peace in the storm and your strength when you feel weak. Just as Job’s story didn’t end in despair, yours won’t either. God is faithful to complete what He started in you and He’s greater than any fear that tries to rise against you.
Today’s scripture reading: Job 3:17-26
17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.
18 There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.
20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who long for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings pour out like water.
25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Journal Prompt:
- What specific fears or dreads have been taking up space in your thoughts lately?
- Write them down, and next to each one, write a scripture that counters that fear with truth.
- Then, pray and ask God to help you focus on His promises instead of your fears.
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