Daily Musings: Faith: the Antidote to Fear

There are certain laws of science that govern our everyday lives, such as gravity. Every object on Earth is affected by this rule. It’s what keeps us firmly planted on the ground--literally.

The Law of Attraction is another principle that has recently burst into public knowledge: we attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on. We draw in what we give out:

Happy people attract other happy people.
Miserable individuals attract other miserable individuals.

Negativity cannot draw in positivity: it only brings in more negativity. That’s why pessimism can never move us forward in any way.

Regret***Anger***Resentment***Anxiety***Depression***Doubt***Fear

The emotions written above may be “comfortable”. They may seem natural, and even justified, but they aren’t going to help us improve anything. They won’t heal our finances, relationships, or bodies. Believe me, I know. I would be the richest person in the world, and have a completely healthy body, if a negative outlook could heal me.

Faith: the Solution

When circumstances come against us, believing in the promises of God is the only answer. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Here are some more explanations of the topic:

1. Faith justifies all of us (imperfect people) through Christ’s atonement.

Romans 3:23-27 (NIV)—“…all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus…Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.”

************

2. Faith comes through reading and hearing God’s word.

Romans 10:17 (NIV)—“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

************

3. Faith is given to each of us.

Romans 12:3 (NIV)—“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather, think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

************

4. Faith crushes negativity.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)—“We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

My Conclusion

Pessimism is easy to begin with, and it attracts more of the same. Today’s society encourages us to place our belief in anything but God, but we must move beyond that--if we wish to succeed.

Faith is based on the word of God, not circumstances or people. For a deeper study on this topic, please click here to read an excellent article by Tim Greenwood.