Today, I want to share a personal story from my childhood, to illustrate the need for embracing the biblical principles that are leading me to freedom from my past.
Growing up, my dad hurt me in so many ways. He was an extremely selfish person. The thing that hurt me the most was that he was not willing to give me anything that cost him any of his money or time or personal comfort.
For example, he was unwilling to spend time with me. We could have done things together on the weekends, but we rarely did. He stayed hidden behind his newspaper, or watching the news, or working on house projects.
He rarely spent any money on me. To show you how deep of an impression this made on me, I can remember how big a deal it was that one time he brought me some candy from one of his business trips. Even as a child, I began to sense that he had the financial resources to spend more on us, but it was clear that he did not want to do so.
(I should pause here and say that during the years after I graduated from college, the Lord brought significant restoration to our relationship, through me learning and applying a profoundly important biblical principle. But that story is for another episode. 😊)
I have recently come to realize that my childhood experiences contributed to me developing a fear of loss. It manifested itself primarily in two areas:
Fear of financial lossFear of relational loss
This fear of loss resulted in me becoming very frugal (which is a nice way of saying that I was stingy, selfish, and tightfisted). I avoided taking risks, and always chose the safe, conservative path or choice in every situation. I avoided change whenever possible. And I took control over situations whenever possible – a way to avoid change or loss.
Why am I discussing the fear of loss? What does it have to do with biblical principles for living?
Because, at its core, the fear of loss is believing a lie – the lie that God either cannot or will not provide what we need – financially, or emotionally, or physically, or relationally. Believing this lie allows Satan to gain a foothold in our mind, and to plant subtle doubts in us about the goodness of God.
From the small group curriculum entitled “Freedom,” developed by the Church of the Highlands, I learned the following:
What is the antidote for the fear of loss?
1) Confess your sin of believing the lie that God will not provide (which allows Satan to gain a foothold).
2) Replace the lie with the truths that:
God is always with me.Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."God’s perfect love drives out fear.1 John 4:18a NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. God will provide all my needs.Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.God gives good gifts to those who ask Him.Matthew 7:11 NIV If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.Psalms 34:10 NIV The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.God is able (and willing) to make all grace abound to me.2 Corinthians 9:8 NASB And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.3) Repeat these truths to yourself on a regular basis.
Then, you will be free to :
Be content with what you have. Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."Set your hopes on God. Recognize that God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Be rich in good works and generosity.1 Timothy 6:18 NIV Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
Will you embrace these biblical truths and be free from the fear of loss?
Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”