Uncharted Waters

Chapter 2

Empty the Fear from Your Heart

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

—2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

If God is for us, who can be against us?

—Romans 8:31

I am no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God.

—Jonathan David and Melissa Helser (Bethel Music)

God wants to communicate to us and through us, navigating our lives using the rivers of living water, the Holy Spirit. A river’s velocity can change quickly. We can be floating down a lazy river for what seems like ages, when, in an instant, the grade changes, and we suddenly find ourselves exerting all our energy dodging boulders while rafting through turbulent, deadly white water.

Water is a vital part of all life, but it can also be one of the most destructive forces known to man. A raging river has the power to bore a hole through solid rock, while a gentle river can give rise to great civilizations. We can look at a river as a mode of transportation or as a barrier. When the waters are uncharted, they can bring about fear of the unknown, and the actions required to get us to our destination. What if God desires us to travel to a never-explored place of truth? The sovereign God of the universe tells us not to fear the things of the world or its ruler, Satan, who uses lies and temptations to deceive us.

There are many things we could be fearful of, but the Word of God says to fear God only. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When we exhibit this godly fear, we find that God’s love for us fuels the wisdom enabling us to wonderfully know Him.

Whoever exhibits worldly fear fosters failure. We need a heart of valor, a brave heart, forever facing our fears—valor revealed to us by God. It has been said by many that “fear is a powerful motivator.” While this can occur, God never intended fear to be used in this manner. God desires closeness with us by delivering power, love, and self-discipline. In opposition to God, the world desires to distract us from achieving that closeness through an irrational fear.

Our wants and desires war within us and among us, causing us to become envious or jealous of what others have. We become fearful that we may never achieve to their level. We will even wage war to forcefully take these things from them. Can we now see why fear was not meant to be a motivator? We can ask God for our desires, but even then, many times we don’t get them because our motives are for pleasure and personal satisfaction rather than a desire to display the nature of God. If you want to be a friend of the world, you become an enemy of God (James 4:1–4).

Communication can be challenging, even in its simplest forms. Many people have shared with me that they don’t hear from God, or that revelation is a mystery best explained by theologians. For many of us, it’s uncommon to hear someone say, “I received a revelation from God regarding …” Why aren’t we hearing from God, especially when the word revelation means to reveal something that is hidden? Let’s just be honest, it comes down to the fear factor. If God reveals something to us, we are now accountable to act on that knowledge. What are we afraid of? What am I afraid of? Is it the fear of change as God reveals His Truth and requirements? Is it the fear that my Father is not with me every step of the way? If that fear persists, I will weaken, stumble and fall.

Knowing that my Father is there provides me with the spiritual power and courage to fully rely on God to “shoot the rapids” with me, knowing once I go through, I’ll be where He wants me to be. God is there with us and for us in seasons of difficulty and times of ease. He reveals Himself to all people, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, live in an advanced society or a remote culture. God provided me revelation of what worldly fear can do if we allow it to permeate our hearts. The way He revealed it was surprising and not something I would have expected.