Week 40: September 28-October 4, 2025 - Freedom from Fear
This week’s daily readings:
September 28-October 4, 2025
This week’s devotional:
Freedom from Fear
by Phyllis Bonugli
Scripture:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
— 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
Reflection:
The Apostle Paul and Timothy had a special friendship. Paul loved him like a son. Timothy came to faith as a result of walking in ministry with Paul. But Timothy was not confident at first in his role as a leader. He was fearful and timid at times, but Paul encouraged him to develop his relationship with God and to serve him faithfully. Paul knew through his own experience that Timothy would face many problems as a church leader and wanted to encourage him. He worked with him and gave him the tools he needed to persevere through the tough times. He challenged him to use the gifts God gave him to become a faithful minister, to be true to God’s Word, to be ready to teach others, and to be willing to suffer for Christ.
I believe the apostle Paul, in this letter before his death, knew that he needed to help Timothy to walk through his fear and to do what God was leading him to do. The only way to overcome fear is to walk through it. Paul guides Timothy and reminds him that God is with him and wants to use him. He told him, “God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
I can relate to Timothy’s spirit of fear. I was raised in an alcoholic home and was affected with the dysfunction that goes along with the addiction. As I grew up, I became fearful, shy, timid, and withdrawn. I lacked self-esteem and confidence and had lost my identity in the process. As a result of my fears, I never felt good enough, wanted, loved, accepted, and the list goes on. Feeling this way, I became a people pleaser, approval seeker, and I looked for love in all the wrong places. I endured so much suffering in my life due to fear.
But the good news is that God doesn’t leave us in our fears or our brokenness! This Scripture was a life saver for me: “God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of love, and of peace, and of a sound mind.” I used this Scripture many times as I walked through my own fears. Although my mind was repeating the Scripture, my body was experiencing something totally different. What I learned while using it was this: it is OK to feel shaky, uncomfortable, anxious, afraid, and even angry when being fearful. Just like Timothy, God gives us strength and shows us how to walk through fear using his Word! It’s not always easy to walk through things that make us uncomfortable, but the results outweigh the discomfort. Before you know it, you are walking in faith instead of fear!
It’s amazing how powerful God’s Word is, and when you apply it, you will experience healing and true freedom. Praise Him!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the courage to walk through my fears using your Word. Like Timothy, persevering through hard times is not always easy but when we walk through our struggles, we will find true freedom. I thank you for not leaving me in my brokenness and helping me find the confidence I need to move forward in my ministry. I pray that you will lead me in the Spirit to be true to your Word, to excel as a leader, and to continue to help others find new hope in you! Let all your disciples find the same sort of freedom from their own doubts and fears. Amen