Help with Anxiety: Fear God, Not Man

by Michelle Dowell, Contributor
There are many things to be anxious or fearful about in this world, but finding help with fearing less the things of this world is to remind ourselves what we need to truly focus on: The Bible calls it "the fear of the Lord." This does not mean trembling in fear, but more a focus on what truly matters.

If we truly understand the gospel, we don't feel worried about our well being in relation to God. Christ has taken care of our relationship with God, allowing us to be in relationship with him through Christ.

Fearing God is reverence shown to God due to acknowledging his power and authority. Acknowledging this, we feel compelled to obey God.

We need to choose whose opinion matters. Is it man or God?

The great news is that God does not judge like man judges. Man often creates all sorts of odd rules to determine what is "good." Sometimes it's owning certain things, or doing certain things. And not everyone is in the circumstances or have the personality to obtain it all. And even if they get close, they still feel a spiritual need.

Choosing to care about God's opinion and not man's might still lead to man's approval at times. It often causes very good choices in life that even people who don't know God acknowledge as good, too. But not always. The Bible indicates that if we follow Christ we will feel some suffering. But it shouldn't concern us what man thinks. If man likes us, that's a bonus. Ultimately, we are here to serve the King, our Father.

John Piper Quote on Fearing the Lord

A bit from a John Piper Fresh word:

Psalm 2:11-12

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

... and rejoice with trembling.

Fear does not rob us of our joy for two reasons. One is that it drives us to Christ where there is safety. The other is that even when we get there the part of fear that Christ relieves is the hope-destroying part. But he leaves another part-the part we want to feel forever. There is an awe or wonder or trembling in the presence of grandeur that we want to feel as long as we are sure it will not destroy us. This trembling does not compete with joy; it is part of joy. People go to terrifying movies because they know the monster cannot get into the theater. They want to be scared as long as they are safe. For some reason it feels good. This is an echo of the truth that they were made for God. There is something profoundly satisfying about being "frightened" when we cannot be hurt. It is the best when the trembling comes from the grandeur of holiness.