Overwhelming Fear

I have been besieged with fear. Fear has been pinning me against the wall, waving its threatening visions before my eyes as I scream. 

I am forgetting myself, and the fear that has me pinned down is not of God--for fear is never sent from Him. 
Fear is an extremely powerful weapon. In military sense, countries wave around their biggest, scariest weaponry, hinting of weaponry they have never shown, to cause other countries to bow before them. They use it against their own populations, to ensure than the population obeys. People threaten other people, using psychological tactics, physical tactics, emotional tactics, to get what they want. People cause such fear as to basically cripple each other---and that is not considering the glee that is done by the Prince of the Earth. 
His fear mongering powers are the swiftest, sneakiest, and most charming. Fear weasels its way into our lives without us noticing that it is there until we are having nightmares constantly--as I am. 
He uses fear to distract from God. Anything and everything to distract from God. The pastor of my church mentioned, brilliantly, that sometimes it is NOT poor health that is to be a distraction from God by the evil one, but instead that everything is perfect. The perfect job, the perfect health, the perfect children, the perfect house, the perfect "stuff". Everything is going "your way" and everything is "good" may not, in fact, be true. 
Anything that can drag our attention from God is a worthwhile step by the enemy, for one, it is dishonoring to God, with our being made in His image. For another, it is a conquering of us, and while the battle is won already, the war is slow to cease. 

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. NIV

 

This, to me, summarizes the battle we fight with fear. When we attempt to take on fear ourselves, fully alone, with "I can handle it" thought process, we are unable to withstand the fear. We turn to other things to try and deal with the fear, all the while the fear before us grows as a cancer, wild and free. The fear becomes past the "I can handle it" level, and is overwhelming.

If we give in, say that no, we cannot handle this battle alone anymore, we then humble ourselves before God, asking for His help. And, (how shocking!) He does. The object of our fear may still exist, whatever it might be, but it has lost its power. The blood flow to the cancerous tumor is cut off.
See, too, how the devil is described. Not even in a very sneaky manner, being described as a roaring lion. If  we are watching closely, we note that temptation is growing---a fear is changing rapidly into a monster, sinful thoughts become more and more obsessive. The lion is roaring, but are we paying attention? Are we climbing into a tall tree, or are we sitting on the ground hoping it will not notice us. 

The battle is already won, lost many years ago. The troops will soon return home, where great healing and restoration will be given. 

Struggle hard against those last rebels who refuse to admit defeat. Utilize the Spirit to stand against these times of distraction, times of fear, worry, or even great joy. Watch unendingly, and seek always of counsel of God.  I say this as much to myself as the reader...