Recent weeks seem to have unleashed unprecedented levels of fear.
Fear that has arisen within nations, between nations, and then swept across the global stage. Fear that has been fuelled by mainstream media, social media, and the rising proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and unhealthy algorithms. Fear that has been stoked by the seeming inability to disagree well with those who have differing opinions.
As I wrestle with what I am witnessing, I find I keep returning to 2 Timothy 1:7, ‘For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,’ because it seems to me that God has given us this verse to provide us with an antidote to the fear that is currently running rampant.
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The context here is that 2 Timothy 1:7 comes near the beginning of the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, a young church leader, based in Ephesus. Paul and Timothy are co-workers for the Gospel, in a father-son / mentor-mentee type relationship.
Paul is writing the letter from Rome, where he is imprisoned in a dungeon, chained like a common criminal. He knows his work is done, and his life is nearly at an end. So his desire, in this letter, is to guide and encourage Timothy, by reminding him of his spiritual heritage, and urging him to stay grounded in God’s faithfulness.
Against this backdrop, Paul has four things to point out to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7:
Fear: from the Enemy
Paul knows what it is to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. His hardships are listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 – and include imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks and persecution – so he has had plenty of reasons to feel fearful.
Yet, here he is, telling Timothy that, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear’.
It almost goes without saying that anything not of God is of the Enemy. So, if God has not given us a spirit of fear, where does the spirit of fear come from? It comes from the Enemy.
Fear, timidity and cowardice. Anxiety, worry and distress. Terror, dread and panic. The fear-related ‘family’ is large and expansive. Yet ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear’.
Our spirits are not meant to succumb to fear. Our spirits are meant to conquer fear. Our spirits are meant to be courageous in the face of fear. Particularly when it comes to declaring the Gospel.
But how is this even possible? Paul tells Timothy it can be done through three things: God’s power, God’s love and a sound mind.
Power: from God the Holy Spirit
Instead of a spirit of fear, the first thing God gives us is his power.
This word used here for ‘power’ speaks of the ability and strength that comes from the Holy Spirit living within us. It describes what happened at Pentecost when, as Acts 1:8 tells us, ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you’.
It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be courageous in the face of fear. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to face adversities, endure trials and deal with hardships – while not letting feelings of fear overwhelm us. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to declare, in the words of Philippians 4:13, ‘I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me’.
Love: from God the Father
Instead of a spirit of fear, the second thing God gives us is his love.
Love lies at the heart of the Christian faith. In the well-known words of John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ When we believe and trust in Jesus, we are welcomed into God’s family, and embraced in the love of the Father.
It is this great and perfect love of the Father that enables us to conquer fear. As 1 John 3:1 says, ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.’ And in 1 John 4:18, ‘There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.’ It is our Father’s love that anchors us in the face of fear.
A sound mind: from God the Son
Instead of a spirit of fear, the third thing God gives us is a sound mind.
This word used here for ‘sound mind’ speaks of self-control, self-discipline, discretion and prudence. It describes what happens when we obey Romans 12:2: ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’
A sound mind is what we gain when we filter through the chaos and confusion of the world, to focus on Jesus, who is, as John 14:6 tells us, ‘the way and the truth and the life’. A sound mind is what we gain when we grasp hold of the wisdom of God’s Word, through our relationship with Jesus.
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It is this grounding, in the Trinity of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, which I think is the ultimate antidote to fear. But would you agree?
If you are prone to feeling fearful, why don’t you take a moment now to meditate on 2 Timothy 1:7, ‘For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’
As you think about this three-pronged antidote to fear, consider where you are lacking. If you need power, how about asking the Holy Spirit to empower you afresh? If you need love, how about asking Father God to love on you in a tangible way today? And if you need a sound mind, why don’t you dig deep into the Scriptures and ask Jesus to give you wisdom to navigate the way, the truth and the life, in the midst of our world of chaos and confusion?
As ever, constructive comments are welcome below.
Please note: This is my ‘thought for the month’ reflection for September. (You can find all my ‘thought for the month’ reflections here.)
Image from Alex Radelich via Unsplash
2 Comments
Thank you Joanna for another good thought for the month. I so enjoy reading them each month!
I have been one to worry and be fearful when things have come against me and which I have no control over. I like to ‘know where I am going’ so to speak with the future at least vaguely mapped out, rather than like the young man in the image above who is leaping, hoping to safely reach the other side rather than falling into the ravine beneath him.
At the moment I am waiting for an order from the court asking me to move out of this cottage as the landlady wants to sell it. At present I have no idea at all where I shall end up living. In the past this would have screwed me up terribly and I would have been ‘chewing my nails’ in anxiety and angst because of that. As it is friends have told me they don’t know how I am managing to keep so calm.
It is a good opportunity to witness to the love and peace infused into my life by my wonderful Lord and Saviour, knowing that my future is safer in His hands than in my worries and anxieties. He has the perfect place for me to live and I am content to wait until He shows me exactly where that is.
I’m so sorry to hear about your uncertain housing situation, Esther. But I’m glad to hear how my ‘thought for the month’ has reminded you that your future is safe in God’s hands and that you need not be full of fear. As you say, he has the perfect place for you to live; it’s just about waiting for him to show you it.