WEEK 3 DAY 3
Even the Faithful Feel Fear
Devotional
If you've ever felt ashamed of your fear, thinking that 'good Christians' shouldn't struggle with anxiety, let me introduce you to Elijah. This was a man who had just witnessed one of the most dramatic displays of God's power in history. Fire fell from heaven, consumed his sacrifice, and proved to an entire nation that God was real and powerful. Yet just days later, when Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah ran. He didn't just retreat strategically - he fled in terror, traveled for days into the wilderness, and then sat under a tree asking God to end his life. Fear had completely overwhelmed this mighty prophet. What's even more telling is how fear distorted Elijah's thinking. He told God, 'I alone am left,' convinced that he was the only faithful person remaining in Israel. But God gently corrected him: there were actually 7,000 others who had remained faithful. Fear had made Elijah feel completely isolated when he was actually part of a much larger community. This is what fear does - it lies to us. It tells us we're alone when we're not. It makes small problems feel life-threatening. It convinces us that our current pain will last forever. It trains our minds to jump to worst-case scenarios and assume the worst about others' motives. If someone as faithful as Elijah could be overwhelmed by fear, then you're in good company when you struggle with anxiety. Your fear doesn't disqualify you from God's love or make you a second-class believer. It makes you human. The key is not to eliminate fear entirely, but to learn how to respond to it with faith instead of letting it control your decisions.
Bible Verse
'And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"' - 1 Kings 19:9
Reflection Question
How has fear distorted your thinking recently, making you feel more alone or hopeless than you actually are?
Quote
It's not the outcome that is actually killing us. It's the fear of the outcome. It's absolutely destroying us.
Prayer
God, thank You that even Your most faithful servants struggled with fear. Help me remember that my anxiety doesn't disqualify me from Your love. When fear lies to me, remind me of Your truth and Your presence. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots
If you've ever felt ashamed of your fear, thinking that 'good Christians' shouldn't struggle with anxiety, let me introduce you to Elijah. This was a man who had just witnessed one of the most dramatic displays of God's power in history. Fire fell from heaven, consumed his sacrifice, and proved to an entire nation that God was real and powerful. Yet just days later, when Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah ran. He didn't just retreat strategically - he fled in terror, traveled for days into the wilderness, and then sat under a tree asking God to end his life. Fear had completely overwhelmed this mighty prophet. What's even more telling is how fear distorted Elijah's thinking. He told God, 'I alone am left,' convinced that he was the only faithful person remaining in Israel. But God gently corrected him: there were actually 7,000 others who had remained faithful. Fear had made Elijah feel completely isolated when he was actually part of a much larger community. This is what fear does - it lies to us. It tells us we're alone when we're not. It makes small problems feel life-threatening. It convinces us that our current pain will last forever. It trains our minds to jump to worst-case scenarios and assume the worst about others' motives. If someone as faithful as Elijah could be overwhelmed by fear, then you're in good company when you struggle with anxiety. Your fear doesn't disqualify you from God's love or make you a second-class believer. It makes you human. The key is not to eliminate fear entirely, but to learn how to respond to it with faith instead of letting it control your decisions.
Bible Verse
'And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"' - 1 Kings 19:9
Reflection Question
How has fear distorted your thinking recently, making you feel more alone or hopeless than you actually are?
Quote
It's not the outcome that is actually killing us. It's the fear of the outcome. It's absolutely destroying us.
Prayer
God, thank You that even Your most faithful servants struggled with fear. Help me remember that my anxiety doesn't disqualify me from Your love. When fear lies to me, remind me of Your truth and Your presence. Amen.
*This devo was developed using Sermon Shots