Terrorism, Fear and God

Terrorism has a certain measure of effectiveness because fear is such a potent emotion. A terrorist group knows if they create enough fear they can exert control over people. Sometimes people will even surrender values they hold dear, such as freedom, in order to avoid the incredible discomfort of fear.

Sadly, surrendering these values—in the long run—will not stop the fear because no matter how many values we surrender it will never be enough for the people who advance their agenda through fear. So they will never actually discontinue their fear tactics. Why would they stop doing something which gives them power over others?

Why would they stop using a tactic which, from their perspective, works?

I do not want to live with fear. More importantly, God does not want us to live with fear. A genuine sense of God’s presence in our lives is one of the most certain ways to experience true freedom from fear.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”  Psalm 23:4

Why is it possible to walk through this valley with no fear? Because “thou art with me.” God’s presence matters.

It is one thing to pretend, when it comes to God. It is another matter to cultivate a genuine relationship with God in which there is true assurance of His presence. Pretending provides no relief from fear. A genuine relationship opens a whole new way of living with confidence and power.