Fear Turned to Joy

Have you ever met with a situation that made your heart shiver? Have you ever been gripped with sudden fear, and it seemed as if the heavens were falling on your head? In those times, what is the best thing to do? Let me share my testimony to demonstrate the truth and power of today’s text.

Fear gripped me when the treasurer of our church headquarters in our part of the world told me that I would need to budget the finances of the upcoming meeting in such a manner that no debt would be brought to his office after the program. Though this stipulation was reasonable, fear gripped me because I felt the weight of this enormous responsibility: I must not run the conference into debt.

Troubling questions raced through my head: If I fall short of money, where do I go for help? If emergencies arise, who will come to my aid? Just at that moment when those troubled thoughts were tormenting me, the words of Psalm 56:3 shone into my heart like a flash of light in the midst of thick darkness.

I whispered a prayer in my heart: Jesus, I now give You all my fears. I know that You will take care of them for me. As I prayed daily with my office secretary and the directors of the other participating areas about the meeting and its related budget, the Spirit of the Lord taught me strategies about the best ways to handle the finances as I worked with the treasury team assigned to me. Daily I gave my fears to God and prayed for miraculous blessings. I kept strictly to the budget, refused any extravagant spending, and bargained carefully for all transactions. I encouraged my treasury team to be faithful and trusted in the Lord to help me out. At the end of the meeting, I was surprised at the blessings of the Lord. All that had been planned and budgeted was achieved; we had some cash left instead of debt! Praise God, my fear was turned into joy as the treasurer gave me the conference’s financial report. What a God we serve! The One who is able to turn our fears into joy! I do not know your source of fear today.

Is it related to finances, as was mine? Is it a health issue or a family problem? Whatever your fear and its source, carry them to Jesus.

In His ways and timing, He will turn your fear into joy and give you the grace to bear the burdens. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3, KJV)!

Omobonike Adeola Sessou