1 KINGS 19:15-16: Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of
Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son
of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as
prophet in your place.”
Biologists say that fear is not only a universal emotion, but the first of the emotions to be developed in
man and beast. If you have ever picked up a baby bird fallen from its nest, you have felt the rapid,
terrified beating of its heart. Even though it has had no experience with you or any other person, it is
fearful.
All of creation is under the dominion of fear. Man comes into this world stamped with fear before he is
born, and those fears are multiplied as he increases in knowledge and experience. But it can be a
mistake to make decisions based on fear.
Elijah made the mistake of giving in to his fears — and he fled from his homeland and his
responsibilities. But when he renewed his commitment to God on Mount Horeb, the Lord turned him
around and sent him back to face what he left behind. God knew the only way Elijah would conquer
his fears was to confront them. Running away would never do it.
Many Christians have fled from their duties because of fears. Pastors have left churches,
missionaries have come home from the field, mothers and fathers have left their families — all
because of their fears: fear of failure, fear of pain, fear of suffering. But we can never overcome our
fears if we have our back toward them, running away. We have to face them.
If you have allowed fear to cause you to flee from something you know you should do, turn around
and face it. In God’s power and by His will, you can have victory over your fears.
NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR FEARS.