I have not given you a spirit of fear.

When you say: "I am afraid." God Says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." I am afraid. I am afraid. I don't know if this is healthy or unhealthy, but I know that my fear is real. It's not one of those things where I can say "it's all in your head", because it's not just in my head, it's in my heart and body as well. My heart races when I think about what might happen next week or next month or even next year. My mind goes over every possible scenario and then it makes up new ones too! Do you ever feel like that? Like everything could change overnight? I am lying alone in the dark, so I turn on the light. You can turn on the light. This is a metaphor for turning to God, who will never leave you or forsake you. He’s always there for us as long as we ask him. Reading the Bible is another way of turning on the light; reading about Jesus will remind us that he suffered for our sins so that we might be forgiven and live with him forever. Praying for others is also an act of love—pray specifically for people who are struggling with depression or anxiety so that they know they are not alone! Some final ways to turn on the light include being kinder than usual towards others today; smile at strangers while you’re out running errands or eating lunch at work today! If someone smiles back at you first, give them a thumbs up or tell them how much better your day seems now because of their kindness: “Thank goodness I ran into someone who was willing to make my day brighter!” I am afraid of the unknown and the insecurity of it all. I have a fear that if I don't know what to do or how to do it, then everyone will think less of me. I have a fear that if I don't know where to go or who to talk with, then no one will listen and they'll all think worse of me. I am afraid of what people think, especially my family and friends. I have spent a great deal of time in this past trying to please others, only to find that I am exhausted and still feel like I’m not good enough. As I continue to grow in my spiritual walk with God, it becomes more apparent that no matter how hard we try to live according to His commands for our lives and the world around us, there will always be someone who thinks differently than we do. Many times we feel like it is our responsibility to make sure everyone around us feels comfortable with who we are and what we believe; however this is not our problem or our burden! We must understand that we are children of God regardless of what anyone else thinks about us. Our identity comes from Him alone; not from our job title or salary level or even family tree—God created each one of us individually and uniquely as individuals who could potentially impact His Kingdom by bringing glory back into His Name through their lives on earth (2 Corinthians 3). I am afraid. What if I fail? What if things don't work out? The world can be so cruel and uncaring at times. It is not always a gentle place to live in, and sometimes life can seem unfair or unjustified. However, with God on our side we can still have hope for better days ahead! Here are five reasons why:

• God is with us

• God is our refuge

• God is our strength

• God is our song (Psalm 59:16-17)[5]

• God is our hope (Psalm 27:13)[6]

I will not be overcome by fear! You are going to make it through this. You will not be overcome by fear, because I have not given you a spirit of fear. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline! You are stronger than this! I am afraid, but I will not let fear control me. I will overcome my fear and face the unknown with courage and strength.

II Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.