The "unknown" is the root cause of many of our fears – from the small scares about the dark to the big ones about our future – they stem from an uncertainty of what's around the corner.
If we trust in God we should be confident about what lies ahead, knowing that more of His plan will be revealed to us. But simply being aware of this isn't always enough to stop us from being afraid, we need to believe it as well.
Even for Christians, who are told over a hundred times not to fear in the Bible, there's not always an immediate switch-off button for fear. It can take us years and many attempts to overcome fears in relation to what's in store for us.
If the thought of the future fills you with fear, these three steps can help you to fight it.
Actively trust in God
It's no good just saying that an unexpected event or revelation is God's will if internally you're drowning in fear. Real trust is about more than words, it requires actions on our part to validate it. God's already done more than enough which reveals Him as the one you should trust above all others, but do you?
Try going without something you currently view as a must-have for an extended period of time. Maybe it's answering your work emails in the company of your family which you usually do because you're afraid that if you don't respond immediately, then...well, you're not even sure what would happen but it can't be good, can it? Try letting go and letting God in. This isn't about testing God, it's about testing yourself, and exercising your trust in Him.
Work on discerning God's will for your life
The more certain you are that you're fulfilling your calling, the more fearless you'll tend to be about your future. When we're not on the right path, or if we don't think we are, doubts about what the future holds can creep in.
Spend some time discerning God's will for your life by:
- Looking to see if your perceived calling has basis in Scripture. Does what you think God's asking you to do fit with his character?
- Praying to God to make the right way clearer for you, or giving you peace about not knowing what's next. You can use a simple prayer of "Dear Lord, I'm grateful that you have a perfect plan for my life. Please give me the wisdom to do as you ask. If it's not time for me to know more right now, please comfort me as I wait," or say your own words.
- Asking for the advice of other Christians you trust and respect. Even if you're convinced you're on the right path, do they agree?
Unfollow fear
Even if we have no previous experience of something going wrong in a particular context, we can still follow the path to fear. For example, there may have been occasions when you were out of work for brief periods but were always financially stable, yet the prospect of it happening again seems scary when you consider how you'll survive.
Instead of documenting the "what ifs", let the past wonders that God has shown you dominate your thoughts. If you do this you'll probably soon remember times when you didn't quite know what God wanted from you every step of the way, or what He had planned and things turned out better than you could have expected. Noting how He's blessed you in the past will motivate you to truly put your trust in Him again and turn away from fears.
