The most common fear we face…

We’ve been looking at godly confidence in the life of David. We saw that even in “worst-case-scenario” thinking, God will still be with us and we can rest secure in that.

But what about a different kind of fear?

In my opinion, it is not the fear of death or disease or bankruptcy or homelessness that really threatens my confidence.

It’s fear of another kind: fear of man. Anybody with me?

Most of the time I fear ridiculous things. Not life-threatening things, not even real things. I fear things like disapproval, rejection, failing people. Nine times out of ten, when fear knocks on my door it is wrapped up in people plain and simple. And the most perfect summary of this predicament comes, naturally, smack dab in the middle of God’s word:

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” Proverbs 29:25

This is getting right at the heart of what we talked about in Psalm 27! Safety. Our world cries for assurance and God answers, “Trust Me.”

We are confident when we are safe and we are safe when we trust.

Another way of putting it — when we fear people, we are not safe, not secure. Not confident. That fear of man is actually a snare, so if anything we should fear the fear of man! Flee from it! Run!  When you see it creeping up in your heart act quickly and do battle because it is the enemy.

A few signs the fear of man might be creeping into your heart:

• Do you have  a strong desire to make things right with someone, even if you haven’t done anything wrong?
• Do you get anxious over unexplained silence in a friendship or relationship?
• Do you rehash conversations over and over in your mind, thinking of how you could have said something different?
• Do you have to ask yourself if what you’re feeling is even real? If you’re discerning or just suspicious?
• Do you find yourself saying yes to things even though you come to regret it later or feel bitter about doing it?
• Do you wonder what other people say about you when you’re not around?

I only had to look as far as my own heart to find this list. Though God has done a tremendous work in my heart in this area, and I praise Him and give Him glory for it, I always have to be on guard in this area, because that creeping weed of approval-addiction can sprout up at any time.

But what if, instead, it looked like this:

• If you wrong someone you go to them, confess, ask forgiveness and restoration and moved on. If you did not wrong someone, you move on.
• If you sense a bit of distance or silence from a friend you sent a quick note to check on their welfare then left it and rested in your heart.
• You left a conversation with peace in your heart knowing God directs our words as we surrender to Him. If something sinful was spoken, you immediate seek forgiveness and restoration, then move on.
• If you have a hunch about something you take it to GOD and ask for His direction and wisdom, then you moved forward in confidence, knowing He would guide your steps.
• If you were asked to do something, you said, “let me pray about it,” and you really did pray about it, asking God specifically if this was His best will, then moved forward in obedience based on His answer, without apology.
• You actually asked one or two godly, wise, people, what they thought of your character and habits, then acted on that wisdom, without taking another moment to obsess about what the masses might think. (And chances are they don’t think anything about us because they don’t think about us.)

Doesn’t that sound better? More fun? The difference is simply, who do we seek to please? As the Apostle Paul says,

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

We have to pick, yes? Every single day, we must choose our master.

Choose Christ today. {Thanks for reading.}