Key scripture – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:31–35, ESV).

Pastor, James McDonald says that fear has no place in the life of a follower of Jesus. In fact, fear contradicts faith. Faith says, “Whatever I face, it will be okay because God will never forsake me or abandon me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. God is for me, therefore, what can man do to me.” Fear sneers and says, “It will not be okay. This will destroy you. You will never be able to get over this. Things will never get better.” Fear thinks nothing about God or His promises.

God seldom seems farther away than when your heart is filled with fear. When you are afraid, you survey your own resources, trying to be self-sufficient, and realize you aren’t nearly enough and there is no way you can fix your problem or handle it on your own. An anxious, frightened perspective of your circumstances is never good—and that is never ever from God. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.” (Romans 8:15a). “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear doesn’t come from God.

The Apostle Paul exhaustively addressed this issue of fear in Romans 8. He was a master at asking questions to make a point, and he posed seven questions, six of which are sledgehammer blows against fear in Romans 8:31-35. Along the way, Paul named the full gamut of our fears, from our enemies to every conceivable danger. Paul didn’t teach that this kind of trouble won’t happen to us, but that when any or all of these do happen, they won’t crush us because of what we have going for us as a child of God:

1. “God is for us.”

2. He “gave [his own Son] up for us all.”

3. He will “graciously give us all things.”

4. “It is God who justifies.

5. Christ Jesus “is interceding for us.”

6. Absolutely nothing “shall separate us from the love of Christ.”

These are six resounding sledgehammer strikes that can shatter our fears, and they also confirm that fear has no place in the life of a Christian.

We need not fear, because God is with each one of us individually and He is in control. There’s a special sense in which God is with each one of His children personally. It is like when your closest friend is sitting next to you in a stadium full of strangers. He is with you in a unique way that an unbeliever cannot experience, and not only is He with you, but He is also for you. “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b). The answer to that question, NO ONE can be against us.

What are some of the fears lurking in your life that need to be shattered? Take God’s Romans 8 sledgehammer and as you pray about them knock them out one by one.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, You tell us over and over and over again not to fret or fear because it only causes harm and leads to evil, but instead to rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:1, 7-8). I thank You that You are with me and that I never have to face my fears alone and that no one can stand against me. Father, You gave Your only Son for me, and I know that You will graciously give me everything else that I need. Thank You for justifying me and for interceding for me. I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39). I will not be overtaken over overcome, because all of my fear, worry, and anxiety is shattered by my faith in Jesus Christ. I can walk down any dark and painful road, and I can face every fear of the unknown, because the same power that rose Jesus from the grave, the same power that commanded the dead to wake, the same power that can calm a raging sea, lives in me. In His strength there is nothing I can’t do. I look ahead and I know there are greater things in store for me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ who died, was raised, and is at the Right Hand of God our Father, Amen.