Daily Devotional: January 11th, 2020

From Fear to Hope

Originally Posted on The Upper Room

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Depression has afflicted my life in different ways over the years. One constant was fear — the persistent catch in my chest that made it difficult to ever be completely at ease. It felt as if everything had the potential to fill me with fear. Often I would awake in a cold sweat, in the grip of the terror and dread of a panic attack. I would lie trembling in my bed, too terrified to get up and switch on the light.

For me, the greatest revelation in the verse quoted above was that God did not give me a spirit of fear but rather a spirit of a sound mind. One of the counselors at church advised me to rely on this verse; but to be honest, I did not believe this would help in any way. Still, the next time the terror came, I recited the verse and continued to repeat it — mostly because I did not know what else to do.

It became my nightly declaration. Then, many weeks later, I realized that the fear had lessened. The repetition of this truth from God’s word had helped reduce my fear. God’s word is powerful enough to enable me to stand firm and courageous.