Too much fear?

[katpants]

I know sudden fear is a sin but I can't seem to shake it! I have OCD from epilepsy and I'm having awful times dealing with fear.

I have fear that we'll get really sick with swine flu (massive outbreak here), I have a fear that something bad will happen to my husband or my family, you name it. It's not normal fear, it's like gripping around my heart awful fear.

Any good Bible verses or chapters I could read when I'm in a full swing of fear? I hate this feeling, the obsessiveness and worry, drives me bonkers.

Thanks and God bless!

Kat

[George]

Sister Kat I am familiar with this syndrome. I used to have such great fears I would have full-blown panic attacks. It was only through increasing my knowledge of and my faith in God I was able to overcome it. There is one verse that is very appropriate. (Actually it is two verses.)

(Php 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Php 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

These are such wonderful verses and full of promise. Promise of God which can not be broken. If we take everything to God in prayer being certain we remember to give thanks for what He has already done for us look at the outcome. The peace of God, which is greater than any understanding we can possibly have will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen!

If you use e-Sword or something similar to it do a search of the Bible using such things as "fear not," or "be not afraid" and you may be amazed at the results. Do you realize there are approximately 326 instances of such language in the Bible? I believe if God found it fit to include those things in the Bible 326 times He is trying to make a point.

That being said I also realize you have a physical problem which is contributing to the fears. That makes it more difficult to overcome and probably requires doubling up on the prayer. The fascinating thing to me about fear is that it is fear of the unknown. That's right; the unknown! In other words the fears are baseless because we can not predict the future. We know not what a day or even a minute will hold for us. That is up to God.

I believe baseless fears come from us trying to do God's job for Him. (Gal 6:7) "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." I sincerely believe that one of the biggest ways in which we mock God is when we try to do His job for Him. He has control of the future, even the very next second. When we convince ourselves that something terrible is going to happen but we know not when I believe we are mocking God.

(Mat 6:34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. My goodness, we h ave enough to deal with today. Lapsing into worry and fear is counter-productive and self-defeating. I also am fully convinced the worry and fear are sins.

In Christ,
George