Fear of Man
By Ashley Moore
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” - Psalm 118:6, ESV
I've long struggled with the fear of man; perhaps you have as well?
- Do you seek others' approval before making a significant decision?
- Do you find yourself repeatedly questioning someone's response to your plans?
- Do you get anxious when you think of disappointing or angering a particular person?
As we mature, we will naturally think of how decisions will impact those around us. And, often, there will be people’s opinions that will deeply influence the choices we make because we respect their wise counsel and want to follow their example. However, fear of man becomes a stumbling block when we allow someone’s words, actions, or opinions to dictate our obedience to the Lord.
Psalm 118 is a song about God’s steadfast love. The Psalmist writes about calling out to the Lord while he was in distress and how He set him free (Psalm 118:5). The Hebrew word for free used in this passage is rachab, meaning to broaden, make room, or make wide open.
This brings great comfort to those of us who feel restricted by the opinions of others. When God rescues us, we can freely follow Him wherever He directs. We can make decisions confidently, knowing our choices are not limited by how someone reacts! We are not subject to human opinions even when our obedience doesn’t seem logical to others. So here are a few ways you can be on guard against the fear of man.
Exchange the Fear of Man for Fear of the Lord
When we get into difficult circumstances, we often desire immediate relief. Because we long for quick resolution, we are prone to accept any and all advice from people in our lives. At the cost of waiting on the Lord's response, and His timing, we often swiftly act on the counsel of those physically present in our lives.
It is much harder to pray and wait to see what the Lord would have us do. Or when we do, sometimes His solution for us feels too challenging or even impossible. This is when God puts our faith to the test.
Whose voice will carry more weight in our lives? People’s suggestions or God’s direction? I know this isn’t easy, but at the end of the day, we have to remember that God knows best. Out of reverence for Him, we sometimes have to follow Him despite going against human logic.
Remember the Character of God
We rely so heavily on some relationships to guide us in life that it is hard to step out and act in faith. Maybe we are afraid we will lose status, provision, or security if we forfeit a certain relationship. And in some extreme cases, we put ourselves in immediate danger by risking these relationships for obedience to God.
This is when we must remember the nature of God. This is what the Psalmist did in his distress. He remembered that God was for him (Psalm 118:6). He wrote down that God was his helper (Psalm 118:7). He sang about how God was his refuge (Psalm 118:9). He invited others to join him in singing that God was his strength, song, and salvation (Psalm 118:14). We have to find ways to remember the character of God when we are afraid too!
Obedience to God is more important than people's opinions over how we live our life. Let's spend our time focusing on God's character and let go of our worries about what people will think. God is inviting us into a life of freedom where He reigns with love that endures forever. Will we continue to let the fear of man keep us from that freedom? I sure hope not.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Is there a decision that you sense God prompting you to make, but you are hesitant because you don’t want to upset or disappoint someone? If so, take some time to be honest with God about those feelings. Remember, He loves you, and He can handle your fears. Then I want you to take some time to write down some characteristics of God that you find in scripture. Spend time dwelling on God rather than on what you fear about that person’s reactions.
Further Reading:
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