Is fear valid?
“Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” 1 Peter 3:6
God is the determiner of what is right. He has clearly revealed right and wrong throughout His Word. So, why might you or any Christian wife be afraid to do the right thing? Perhaps you are afraid that you will be hurt, disappointed, embarrassed, or “taken advantage of.” Perhaps you may be unsure of what is right. However, the most likely reason that you may be afraid to do what God wants is that you are afraid you won’t have your own way…
Fear can cripple us. If we let it, fear can debilitate us from effectively ministering to others for the Lord. Each of us probably have a list of reasons why fear prevents us from doing the right thing. It can even feel as though the fear is controlling us. And yet, in chapter two of Martha Peace’s The Excellent Wife, she states simply–”The Christian wife does not have to be afraid.” The phrase, “does not have to” was a reminder to me that I choose my response in the situations I face in life. I don’t get to choose the circumstances but what I think and how act is up to me. Fear is voluntary and too often I am giving in to it.
Sarah wasn’t frightened by any fear because she trusted in God. The opposite of fear is trust. Look at this list of verses that show the benefit of choosing to trust, rather than give in to fear.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 125:1
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trust in him. Psalm 32:10
God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord is my strength and my song. Isaiah 12:2
Maybe your husband isn’t living out these Scriptures, maybe he isn’t even a Christian. However, that is not the main thing…the main thing is that each Christian wife can choose to lay aside her fears and put all her trust in God. Don’t bank your trust in man, circumstances, plans, money or anything else. The only person worth trusting in is the Lord. We need to trust in Him because as Peace says God alone is the “determiner of what is right.” We should be much more concerned about the ramifications for not obeying the Lord and depending on our own understanding than having things our own way. Fear is not valid because when you trust in the Lord, there is nothing to fear!

“Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” 1 Peter 3:6

March 29th, 2007
I appreciated your comment, “I choose my response in the situations I face in life.” It is so easy not to see life that way. As women we are tempted to be dominated my our emotions. Often our initial response to a situation is emotional. But, while we might initially feel fear in a particular circumstance, we can choose to respond by trusting in God rather than allowing our fearful feelings to take control. All those verses were such an encouragment. God is so worthy of our complete trust!
March 30th, 2007
Christa, you’ve written an excellent post that cites the reason for trust in the Lord. When a Christian wife can grasp and by faith cling to the truth that while her husband’s character is fallible, God’s character never fails. It is God’s character upon which any decision must be based. Knowing, loving and living by the truth of God’s perfect character gives courage in all circumstances and conquers fear.
Well written.
April 1st, 2007
Sis-
I’m not excellent, and I’m definitely not a wife, but I loved this post. This principle is applicable to everyone. Because of who God is, we have nothing to fear.
By the way, I also loved Piper’s post on hearing the voice of God.
Keep up the great blogs, Sis!