Whom shall I fear - Example from the Bible: Elijah, the fugitive prophet

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he heard that, he was afraid, arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, in Judah, and left his servant there. And he sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Elijah felt fear and frustration and despair, and left his ministry and his companion and asked the Lord to take his life. So that when he was asked of the Lord, “Why are you here, Elijah?” his reply was, “The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” And when the Lord repeated the question outside the cave, his answer was the same.

Here we can see that when Elijah thought of Jezebel’s threats, and interpreted matters in a logical, human manner, he reached a terrifying conclusion: that he was, indeed, as good as dead, with no hope for survival. That is why he was afraid and felt despair, and asked the Lord to take his life.

But what was God's treatment of this desperate, fearful, fugitive prophet?
The Lord dealt with him by correcting his understanding, and teaching him and directing him. The Lord corrected three things for him, the reasons for his fear and frustration:

First: The Lord corrected his conclusion that he remained alone. He told him, “you are not the only one to worship Me, but I have kept seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Second: The Lord corrected his predictions. The Lord does not deal with us by a great and strong wind that tears into the mountains and breaks the rocks in pieces, or by earthquakes or by fire… but with a still small voice. God is present and His work is sure, but His ways differ from our human expectations.

Third: The Lord corrected his decisions, so that rather than asking to die, the Lord sent him back to anoint Hazael and Jehu, and to anoint Elisha as prophet in his place.
The Lord’s treatment for your fear is not only to hear you and gather you up, but also to teach you and guide you.

The days proved the truth of the Lord and the lies of Jezebel. For Elijah never saw death by any means, but stepped up alive into a fiery chariot and ascended to heaven. And Jezebel was not able to kill Elijah, but Elijah prophesied her death, and she died and the dogs licked her blood.

My dear reader, much of what we fear will never happen. Actually, quite the opposite could happen!

Come to the Lord. In His presence, He will correct your conclusions, expectations, and decisions, teach you His way and not your way. And He will also guide you as to what to do and how to act and what to choose.
Trust that He will teach you.

Often our interpretations and conclusions deceive us; and we live as captives of false fear or false anxiety.

Magdy Samuel