The Opposite of Fear

While reading "Gates of Fire" an historical novel about the battle of Thermopile, I read a conversation between two characters exploring the question "what is the opposite of fear? Naturally I thought courage, but what seems courage can still be fear. Fear of shame for not facing danger can be more motivating than fear of injury or even death. Or fearlessness may be nothing more than ignorance of the danger. So what is the opposite of fear?

Near the conclusion of the book they offered that love was the opposite. That love for one's country, comrade, or God conquers fear. The scriptures say that love conquers all, yet knowing God loves me, I still find fear lurking. I see people who may not be aware of God's love yet they in some ways demonstrate a lack of fear. The men who work on skyscrapers for instance. They move about freely at heights that would make a saint quiver with apprehension. I can't assume they are all believers so something else is working here.

Reading Hebrews chapter 11 I realized the answer. Faith is what opposes fear. Faith in training and his own skill is what keeps the man on top of the skyscraper from fear of heights. Likewise, faith in God's presence keeps the believer from fearing loneliness. What I now find is a necessity to learn to have faith in each aspect of life. If I need to assess my relationship with God, I look to see what aspects of my life do I still harbor fear.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Hebrews 11:32-38

One can have real faith in one aspect and none in another. The process of changing that is called sanctification. As I live out this life, God reveals each area of my life that needs work, then begins to teach me how to have faith in Him for each one. Though I am stiff necked and proud, He is faithful and patient. Ultimately it is His love for me that conquers my lack of faith in Him.