It’s a pretty big step to go from fear (which always jumps out from behind somewhere to take you by surprise) to love. How can it be done? Those of you who are very principled and strong may be able to do it by using your will, but it is a huge struggle. It’s like trying to control a ship while it’s in the midst of a storm. While you can grasp the wheel and struggle to retain control, in the end, the storm has more strength than you do, and when you become exhausted, the helm will have its way.
When you can’t control things, trust God.
When Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea at night, a terrible storm blew up; the waves were crashing over the boat, and everyone was freaking out, but Jesus was asleep. Finally, somebody woke him up and said, “Lord, save us; we perish.” And Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid, Oh, you of little faith?” Then he rebuked the storm and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26)
Many times the storm isn’t the real problem; our fear is the real monster. It drives us to do things that we would never do if the fear were not present. In a way, our fear makes US a monster. The answer to the problem of fear is to put it into perspective.
President Teddy Roosevelt had a strategy for sleeplessness: He would look up at the stars until he felt “sufficiently small,” and then he would go back in and get some much-needed rest.
God knows that sometimes we need to be reminded of who He is and how silly we are to fear. The Lord says, “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass: and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?” Isaiah 51:12-13
The Fullers Four 