Fear is a tool of the devil.

I know that seems like a bold statement. Surely it’s not that black and white, you say. What about being afraid of a snake that is about to strike? What about being too scared to lean over the edge of a cliff? What about the fear that keeps me from tasting that unknown berry on the side of the hiking trail?

I would argue that those things are more about wisdom than fear. Or they should be. Wisdom is a gift from God. Not fear.

What if God asked me to approach the snake or lean over the cliff or taste the berry? Would fear keep me from doing so? Fear is a lack of trust in God. Obedience in God is always wise. Letting fear override my obedience makes the devil cheer.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego obeyed God when they were forced to step into the fiery furnace. They were probably afraid, but they obeyed God by not worshipping King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. Something that should have killed them instead lead many people, then and now, to faith in God and His power to save His people from even the fiercest dangers.

Daniel obeyed God by continuing to pray regularly despite an edict not to pray to anyone but King Darius. For that he was forced into a den of lions. But he was unharmed. Daniel chose the wisdom of obedience over fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Do you have something in your life that is scaring you? Are you succumbing to the fear promoted by a culture that likes to tell us what and who we should be afraid of?

Jesus told His followers that our one job is to love God by loving others. Fear should never, ever stop me from doing that. Am I afraid of immigrants? Or gay people? Or people with different skin colors or languages than mine? Am I afraid of children or homeless people? Am I afraid of listening for the truth, going against the crowd, losing my job, being generous, opening my home, looking foolish, losing friends, or being uncomfortable?

Or am I ready to step out in obedient love. God is ready to protect me and guide me if I put my fear away and take a step of faith.

Dear God, it is so easy to give in to fear. Fill me with your Spirit of power, love, and wisdom so that I can step toward the scary things you want me to do with confidence and faith. I trust you to be with me in the fiery furnace and in the lion’s den.