Don’t Let Fear Define Character

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 
 
Over the last couple of days, we have discussed what it means to have consistent character. When your character is consistent, it does not change based on people or circumstances. But a final attribute that doesn’t define character is fear.  

Matthew 6:34 tells us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
 
Fear can cause us to doubt the promises of God, that He will never leave nor forsake us. Fear can test our character because it threatens our need for safety. This is what happened to Peter in Mathew 26 after Jesus was arrested. For fear that he might be persecuted as well, Peter denounced Jesus three times, as Jesus predicted.  

Mathew 26:69-75 says: “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
 
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

It is easy to say, “that wouldn’t be me. I would stand for Jesus!” However, despite Peter’s adamancy that he would never deny Jesus, he found himself in a predicament, not wanting to face punishment for his allegiance to Jesus.  

This is when we must recite those words of Isaiah 41:10, which state ““Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  
 
If you want to display truly consistent character, the kind that God desires for you to have, don’t allow fear to change who you are. Trust that God will take care of you.