When we look at emotions in the bible, we cannot find definitive rules on how to deal with them. But we see how those people share their emotions at certain times.
When Paul is addressing the people of Corinth, he … But he says that even in the midst of our emotions, God is who he is. He does not wake up on the wrong side of the bed or have mood swings.
Positive Fear vs. Negative Fear
When the danger is real and we need to respond to that danger, fear is positive. But if we allow previous instances of fear control us in the future, that is a negative fear.
If you turn down a one way street and see someone coming towards us going the wrong way, we experience a positive fear of that danger. But if because of that we decide never to go down one way streets in the future, we are experiencing a negative fear.
Negative fears brings about an emotion of anxiety. Sometimes it can result in a phobia. Sometimes in the process of negative fear, a person can get to the point where they experience a panic attach.
We can defuse fears when we apply truth. We don’t just tag something as irrational and hope it works out.
We have to start with the bible as our source of truth.
We need to humble ourselves. We feel like we need to be in control to control fear. But we need to trust Gods control in our lives. He gives grace to the humble.
5:7
Cast our fears on Jesus. He cares for us, but we have to hand over our fears. We have to rely on him when we are surrounded by danger. We need to identify the triggers of our anxiety, so that we can hand those over to Him.
5:8
Satan wants to tell us that we can have control and that we don’t need God. He will aggravate our fears to further divide us from God.
5:9
Resist the enemy and his tricks by relying on God and His word. We realize that there are others in the world that are fighting and you are not alone.
5:10
If you are in fear, Jesus is not out of reach. Through your faith, he will hold onto you and pull you away from that fear.
Timidity – umbrella definition of operating in fear
Power – authority, truth
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (ESV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, (ESV)
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (ESV)