At some point we all have to answer the question "How fearful are we going to be?" We could allow parenting to make us fearful...the safety of our homes, the security of our jobs, the future of our country, and on and on. At some point, we all have to decide how we are going to respond to the anxiety and fear in life, including the upcoming election.

For Christians, Jesus gives us some pretty specific instruction on how we are to handle fear. For those not sure about Jesus or religion, we have to determine how far we will let fear control our lives and who/what we will trust in beyond that.

Jesus used almost any event to teach his disciples about this. In Matthew 8, Jesus uses a stormy boat ride to challenge their trust in Him beyond what the storm could do to their body. Then in Matthew 10, Jesus prepares them for the difficulty & persecution they will face in the future as He sends them on their own.

Then, Jesus summarizes how we should respond to fear:

Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28 NLT

Who or what is making you fearful?
Do you think that person, circumstance, or thing could hurt you beyond this life?
What is holding you back from the kind faith in God that overwhelms your fear?

Message adapted from Andy Stanley.