Fears Within

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
2 Corinthians 7:5 NIV

For every Christian who has ever wrestled with fearful thoughts, this verse should be a comfort. Here, the Apostle Paul confesses to being harassed not only by outside influences but from fears within himself. He'd missed Titus in Troas and was concerned that he had lost the faithfulness of the Corinthians because of his previous letter of correction to them. Then Titus showed up and was able to overcome the fears that had harassed him. 

If you've ever said or done anything that caused doubt or fear within yourself, you know how unsettling that can be. BUT we serve a God Who is faithful to give us exactly what we need when we turn everything over to Him. He will do for us what He did for Paul. He will send someone alongside who will encourage us, pray for us, or testify about how God saw them through the same thing. 

All Christians are humans and as such, wrestle with doubts and fear. Paul, King David, Simon Peter, Moses, Elijah... just to name a few. 

1st Peter 5:8-10 tells us, Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

We are made new in Christ. We are made to be overcomers.  

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Grace. Thank You for restoring, confirming, strengthening, and establishing us, and making us fit for Your purpose. Give us eyes to see those around us who need to be encouraged, too. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen