For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind – 2nd Timothy 1:7
We all battle fear, whether we’re Christian or non-believers. Fear is something we have to confront to be released from it; fear is false evidence appearing real.
Nehemiah was the governor of Jerusalem who helped rebuild the city wall. He was the personal cupbearer of a Persian King, Artaxerxes. He was appointed governor of the province with authority to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem.
As he began to focus on building the walls, his enemies were Sanaballat, an Horonite, Tobiah, an Ammonite, and Geshem an Arabian. These three-man was angry with Nehemiah because he was restoring the walls, and they mocked him and the Jews that were rebuilding the wall.
God had placed in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the walls, but because God had given him the desire didn’t mean he would not have difficulties or be liked for what he was doing. Just like Nehemiah, when God places something in your heart to do, don’t think you will not have adversaries; everyone is not going like what you’re doing. As a matter of fact, Satan will send people to discourage you from doing what God has placed in your heart as they tried to do with Nehemiah.
Shemaiah claimed to have a special revelation about a plot against Nehemiah’s life and suggested they meet in the temple since it would provide the only place of refuge, but because Nehemiah knew the Law, he knew that God would not lead him to break the Mosaic injunction against laypeople entering the temple. Nehemiah knew that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to make him fear.
When a thought or someone comes to you giving you an evil report to make you fear, know that the thought neither was the person sent by God. Because Nehemiah knew God’s Word, he didn’t fear, nor did he allow Sanballat and Tobiah to discourage him from completing his assignment.
You may want to start a business; the adversary will say you can’t do it. Maybe you want to further your education or purchase a home; the adversary will tell you it can’t be done because of your finance. When you have a heart desire to do something and no thoughts to hurt or harm anyone, don’t think it will be an easy task, your adversary will speak doubt, and he will send people in your life that will confirm doubt to make you fear.
God wants you to prosper in all areas of your life. He has not given you a spirit of fear; if you fear, it comes from your Adversary, the devil, to stop what God has placed in your heart. Pray and ask God to give you courage, wisdom, and knowledge of carrying out the plan in your heart.
Don’t allow Satan nor the people he will send to stop you; there is nothing you can’t accomplish when you have God on your side. When we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all of the other desires we have, He will enable us to do them. Always remember, “Fear is false evidence appearing real.”