This Day-5 devotion is adapted from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "Fear of the Future"

Fear of the Future

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)

While some cases of spiritual depression arise from dwelling on the past, others come from anxiously anticipating the future. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones identified fear of the future as a common source of Christian despondency.

Satan often uses this strategy to paralyze believers. He fills our minds with worst-case scenarios, potential failures, and imagined disasters. "What if I lose my job?" "What if my health fails?" "What if my children abandon the faith?" These questions, left unchecked, can immobilize us with dread.

Our natural temperament plays a significant role here. Some personalities are more prone to anxiety than others. As Lloyd-Jones observed, becoming a Christian doesn't erase our temperamental tendencies—it gives us new resources to address them.

Scripture doesn't promise believers a trouble-free future. Jesus himself said, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33). What Scripture does promise is God's sustaining presence through whatever trials come. The issue isn't whether we'll face difficulties—it's whether we'll face them with faith or fear.

Paul reminded Timothy that God hasn't given us "a spirit of fear." The Greek word for fear here (deilia) specifically refers to cowardice or timidity—not the healthy caution that keeps us from recklessness. Instead, God equips us with power to face challenges, love to maintain relationships under pressure, and self-control to think clearly when emotions run high.

Today, if you're depressed by fears of what might happen, recognize these thoughts as spiritual attacks rather than realistic assessments. Challenge fearful thinking with the truth of who God is and what He's promised. Remember that divine power, love, and self-control are available to you right now—not just when trouble arrives.

The future may indeed hold sorrow and suffering, but as a child of God, you can step into the unknown with confidence in the One who already occupies tomorrow.