Fear of Man

Fear is essentially faith in the wrong things. Fear is a belief that something or someone is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Fear can intimidate, silence, suffocate and even paralyze its victims. Fear can cause people to silently endure injustice and pain and never confront or cry out against their captor. Fear can also cause inward angst, paranoia, and even bitterness, poisoning those who keep dwelling on it.

Common concerns from fear of man are, “How will they respond?” “What if they’ll judge me or reject me?” “What if they don’t give me what I’ve requested but rather oppose me strongly or even abandon me?” “What if they’ll label me or speak behind my back?” “What if they’ll take advantage of me or even abuse me?”

The answer to all of those concerns are: Let go, let God be in control, and hold to your integrity. It’s through your prayers you’re able to let go and commit your concerns to God (1Peter 5:7). It’s meditating on God’s character and His Word that you can be at peace and know that He will provide and protect (He is our Father!), comfort and strengthen (His Spirit lives in us!), and relate to you as a close friend (Jesus, closer than a brother). And if your motives are clean (integrity), then even if people judge you or spread lies about you, you’ll be fine. What matters is your relationship with God and who you are in Him. In the end, He is the judge. He is your defender. No matter what suffering you may have to go through you can be at peace that God is going through it with you and He is bearing every burden (Psalm 68:19). And He will work all things for your good (Romans 8:28).

When you need to approach or confront those you fear, meditate on your identity in Christ and on the truth that no matter what happens God is in control of your life. No parent, no boss, no love interest, no person has control over you. Only God does. Hold to that truth. If you feel intimidated, manipulated, or dominated, then seek help from another Christian you trust to pray together, not meditating on the fear but rather on God and His truth. You will not remain tied down. You will experience breakthrough, clarity, and peace. You will grow confident through Him.

Don’t let the enemy surprise you and pin you down with fear. He who lives within us is greater than he who lives in this world (1John 4:4). No man, no lion, no situation surprises God who sees all and knows all. Commit it all to Him and let His perfect love purge out all your fear within you. He is in control. There is nothing to fear.

1John 4:18 – There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Matthew 10:28-31 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

A sermon I preached called From Fear to Family: https://www.comequicklyministries.org/blog/dt_portfolio/from-fear-to-family/

An old blog post titled Becoming a Fearless Lion Hugger: https://www.comequicklyministries.org/blog/becoming-fearless-lion-hugger/