Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Do ever find yourself saying no to participating in something with other people because you are afraid of something? Your mind makes up excuses that will seem plausible to you as to why you decide not to join in. So, you stay at home by yourself and that’s when other thoughts start to plague you.
You may be thinking what are those thoughts? Your mind has already given you a plausible excuse as to why you stayed away. That excuse is valid and makes sense, especially in these times when the fear of catching something keeps you at home. The problem is that everywhere you go, there is a risk, and hiding from it isn’t going to change that. Living a life of fear is not what God wants for us.
A life of living in fear robs us from living our life to its full potential…the potential that God gave us. When we aren’t living the life God wants us to live, we are further isolating ourselves from Him and all that He has for us. Isolation is an outcome of fear. A group of people living in fear also pulls each person in that group down and the further down we go, the more isolated we feel.
Living in Fear
Fear can also isolate you by making you feel more of an outsider because you start thinking that you are missing out on things. When we are by ourselves, our thoughts turn to what other people are up to. Are they having fun? Are they wondering what I am doing? Why aren’t they scared of what I’m scared of…the thing that keeping me away from them?
The answer to these and many other questions can be found with God. Everything that the world tells us to do should be measured against God’s Word. In some cases, what the world says is true and you should listen but in other cases, the world can lie to you. It is these lies that can lead to fear that can isolate us from God and other people. In fact, making us feel left out and alone is what some of these lies were designed to do.
Living in fear is the ultimate goal of Satan. The more we separate ourselves from others, the more chances he has of isolating us from God. Fear is something that will keep tightening its grip on us the more we let it. Staying at home and not joining in with others because of some perceived fear is a tool that Satan uses on a regular basis.
Sometimes isolating ourselves from others can be a good thing but when it starts destroying our life, that’s when we need to examine why. Is the fear a valid one or is it something that is unhealthy?
To stop fear from isolating us, we must be strong and courageous. That strength and courage can only come from God. So, the next time you feel like staying away from other people because you are fearful, take it to God and pray about it.
Letting fear isolate us drive us from others and God. Isolation from God can be far worse than any fear that is real or imagined.