Don’t Be Afraid of Fear

(Proverbs 3:25 KJV)  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Don’t waste your “afraid” (3372)ration on worrying about people making you jump.  We can be startled.  Don’t worry about it.  “Sudden” (6597) “fear” (6343) is something you can’t control.  This is a different fear than the fear of the Lord.

Notice that there are two different words for “afraid” (3372) and “fear” (6343).  The first is the word commonly used when we talk about fear of the Lord.  This is healthy.  The second is more often used for unhealthy dread. 

A healthy fear helps us to focus.  It causes anticipation and energizes us to improve and excel.  It is the kind of concern you have for an approaching deadline on a project that you know how to handle.  The student who has done his homework was motivated to do it.  He wonders how he did.  The student who did nothing has a dread based on his known failure.  The first is the believers attitude toward God. 

So?  Someone startles you and you jump.  Laugh along with them.  They got you.  God tends to let us know He is coming.  Watch for Him with a holy fear.