Feeling fear or safe?

Step 2 of “Do You Take God at His Word?” is based on Isaiah 7:1-2, where King Ahaz and all Judah experienced genuine fear. They shivered like quivering leaves of an Aspen tree when Israel and Syria attacked from the north. Judah also planned an alliance with the Assyrian’s. Approaching such a powerful killer with an alliance plan could have also engendered genuine fear.

You can have a discussion about Isaiah 7:1-2 and fear, but the key is get at the relationship between experiencing fear and trust in God.

Additional notes to myself:

In what circumstances have you experienced genuine fear? A situation involving your children? Involved in a bad car accident? A lightening storm approaching your house? Target of a mugging? Victim of a false accusation? Just diagnosed with a terrible condition? A wrong turn on a dark street? Hear an unusual noise while you’re alone at home? Just fired from a job? First day on a new job? Put a contract down on a house and wonder if you can pay for it?

How does fear in such circumstances relate to your trust in God? In what way does such fear motivate you? What would alleviate, or prevent such fear from occurring in the above circumstances? What would cause you to feel safe?

“No fear” and “Know fear” are popular expressions today. Why? Who said, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself”? What were the circumstances? Have you heard the expression, “Fear is man’s best friend”? How is that so? What is the “Fear Syndrome”?