Overcome Fear of the Unknown #70

Do the “what ifs” keep you awake at night?  Do you have fears about the future of America?   Your finances?  Crime?

Whatever fears you have God is able to take them away and replace it with fearless faith.   Brian, Terry and Dan give you faith building habits that will help to drive fear away before it arrives.  Discover how God’s promises, prayer and remembering His faithfulness will help you replace fear with peace.  

We may not know what the future holds but we know Who holds the future.  Dwelling in his Presence is the key to overcoming all of your fears of the unknown.  Don’t lost another night’s sleep!

Fearless Faith Website
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Transcript

Dan Wheeler: 0:02

We live in a world of uncertainty, Boy, these times are just seemingly out of control. We wonder where it's all going to end up. I mean, we've talked about how crime in the US is skyrocketing. Our political divide is greater than ever before. demonstrations are turning into riots seems like people can't get along illegal immigrants are coming across our borders and record numbers. And there's a push to teach our, our children unspeakable things that we never would have thought of, even just a couple of years ago, people are wondering what the future holds. Where's this all going? Well, there's a lot of fear regarding our future as a nation, that maybe you also have personal fears about the future, you might worry about your finances holding up in a recession. Perhaps you're worried about loneliness, or possibly having to move out of your house, whatever fears you have. God wants to take them from you and give you the faith overcome. And that's what this podcast this, this edition of finished strong is all about. I'm Dan Wheeler. I'm joined, of course by Brian Rowland and Terry Steen. And our producer, John Matarazzo. is with us. He's always with us, but we're gonna get him into the conversation. Guys, boy, if ever there was a time of uncertainty in our lives, this is it.

Terry Steen: 1:24

Yeah, you know, we always we try to be men of faith. That's our goal. We called ourselves fearless faith. But you know, any time that our faith falters, that opens that door for fear to come in, doesn't it? Because fear is the absence of faith. So even though we work and try so hard, we're like everybody else, you know that our faith can't always be strong enough to keep that fear out, can it?

Brian Roland: 1:52

No, yeah, you're reading off a list of things to be fearful about. And the one you hit on I was finances. And I started thinking about how I was just came back from my cousin's, and in California, and, and he's, he was telling me, I checked that stock market in the morning. And it's avoiding you and everybody else looking to see where that is going. Because so much of us have so much invested in that not just getting your pension and retirement and social security, but everything else is tied up in that and to see what's going on with it. And then to read about the pound and what's happening with that over in England, and what's going on over in Russia with their with their rules, and that it's just crazy. It's a crazy, crazy time. And, and if you don't have a foundation, yeah, it's gonna be very fearful.

Dan Wheeler: 2:39

Like Terry said, I struggled to you know, we were called fearless faith, because we do have faith in the God of the universe. And it calls us to spend more time in the Word. I was reading the other day in different New Testament epistles just about faith, faith, faith, you know, Hebrews 11, by faith with faith without faith, it's impossible to please God. And I know it's something we've got to work on. I feel like, since we do speak to a lot of people who are seniors, we talked about finishing strong, it seems to me and guys, give me your opinion on this. But I find almost as I get older, that I'm finding more things to worry about. And I don't like that I really want to get, you know, into that fearless faith mode more often.

Brian Roland: 3:31

You know, you're right. The older we get, the more things start being afraid about. I agree with that. I, I look over what you just said about faith, faith. I think that God looks at us differently. When our faith is strong, and our immune, I don't mean looks at us, like he's gonna turn his back on us. But he's looking for us to have that faith in him, or other people that are watching us are going are you crazy, but at the same time, they're watching us because of that. And I really believe that the long are the more that we can show our faith and be strong in that and say, you know, this god, there's, this is happening now things are happening here that my hands are completely died. And all I can do is give it to you. I think about when my sister was announced, but her Ms. And I walked out looking at the field going God, I can't do anything about it. My hands are completely tied. I just had to depend on him.

Terry Steen: 4:26

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And we it's kind of set the scene over these last two years with this pandemic that we've gone through. And you know, those who don't have strong faith, suicide rates went up. That's anxiety, stress, everything. In fact, I was reading an article. I've got it right here that says that us doctors they're recommending and they're voting to begin to do this. Apparently this is an AP news report, but that they read that the doctors regularly screened all adults for anxiety. It's the first time they've ever recommended these anxiety screenings. And it's a primary care for adults even without symptoms. So it's just our society has gotten to that point of so much worry so much anxiety. I don't know about you guys what but what the last two to three years that I've gone in for a physical, I've had to complete a mental health form, right have you guys had to do that? Well, they always come back snickering and apparently I failed. I still have to keep taking him. I don't know what's going on there.

Dan Wheeler: 5:41

Wow. I'm looking up a verse because the Bible does talk about how in the last days, men's hearts will be stressed out. Luke 2126 says men's hearts, failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Now. I think they're talking about people that don't know the Lord, you know, as as Christians, we, we know that it's impossible to please God without faith. And yeah, Brian, like you said, Where else do you turn in times like this? Maybe you're listening. And you're saying, man I am. I'm fearful. We're talking in the beginning here about fear. But hang on, because we're going to talk about ways to overcome it.

Brian Roland: 6:30

What did you just said there was interesting, then you said, maybe these were not Christian, but that the history is the Christians that know God, are the followers of Jesus that know God, and know Jesus and have accepted Jesus, but succumb to that fear. I mean, that's, that's first like, there's something there. That's not quite right yet. Because you should be able to be able to conquer that fear for Jesus, we just had a guest on recently, and what How did he come out of an addiction just by calling the name of Jesus. And the same thing can happen with fear in our lives? Jesus is there peace, peace, wonderful peace. He's there for us. And course, so many things that are going on right now. And it's easy to fall into that trap of fear, because we don't, it's we don't know what's what to expect, what the outcome is going to be from it. We do know what the ultimate outcome is, but it's the daily grind outfit that people are fearful of, too, because they're just not aware of what's going to happen next. And, and they don't know. And so they, they have to, we have to show them what goes on here and talk about how we overcome this fear.

Dan Wheeler: 7:38

I think I heard this from my mom growing up to she would say, we don't know what the future holds. But we know Who holds the future. Right? And Hebrews 13 eight says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. And yes, in our last podcast, we heard from Derek Steen, and God did complete. I mean, there's no other way to describe it. It was a miraculous turn about of events for him and in his life. And that happened, you know, when he's a younger man, our producer, John is in his late 30s. John, well, you know, as we get older, we tend to worry about our kids and our grandkids. But I'm sure at your age even there's a lot to worry about.

John Matarazzo: 8:21

The young. Yeah, I like how you said my late 30s. Yeah, Damn, that's appreciate. Well,

Unknown: 8:27

I'm 30 You're definitely closer to 40 than you are 30. That is true. True.

John Matarazzo: 8:35

I tell you, there are definitely things to worry about. I mean, as we're recording this, the entire state of Florida is under a is under a hurricane warning. Yeah. Everybody's Yeah, you can't find water in the store right now. You know, so I'm trying to figure out how to get other things that I need to get taken, you know, taken care of, but I'm just reminded of I love this, this passage in scripture and Mark nine, where this boy's father comes to Jesus and asks, that's to heal his son, he, he says, I do believe but Help my unbelief. For my responses, I do have faith that helped my lack of faith. And so I believe that Jesus is going to take that inkling of faith that we have that inkling of belief that we have, and if we put our tray our trust and our faith in Him, He can take that and he can help our unbelief, he can help our our lack of faith and he can help us with that. And we can rest assured that as you said earlier, I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future and there's a lot of truth to that. It's not just a something to put on a pillow. It's a real thing that we can we can hold on to and as I'm looking at the future with the stock market and everything. My my 401 K's tanking at the moment right now I know everybody's Yeah, what am I gonna do like? Yeah, So it's, I deal with these same things as well. And I just got to continue to trust God. So yeah, Lord, I believe Help my unbelief.

Dan Wheeler: 10:09

I love that you quoted that passage from Mark nine because I read that not long ago and I pray that often. I said, Lord, like that man and the Bible helped my unbelief, I do believe, and let's talk about now some ways that we can overcome our fear. Okay, we've established there's a lot to be fearful for. But you know, I love just being with you guys fellowship, talking with friends and, and knowing that you're not alone. You're in the same boat, we can pray for each other. I think it's so important to have close people, whether it's family members, Pastor, counselor, surround yourself with good people that can relate and you know, the four of us here is helping me.

Terry Steen: 10:51

Yeah, yeah, it doesn't have to be a pastor or a counselor. I mean, if they have wisdom to add, that can make you feel better. That's great. But you're right, just friends or people that you have some camaraderie with, and you can kind of cry in your suit together. And you know, you know, you're not like, like, even with our finances. So you could sit and worry about, have I done the wrong thing? Should I have done this? Should I have done that? And then, when you're talking with your friends, and you realize, well, we're all in this together, there was no better counsel, it doesn't make the numbers go up. But you can take a deeper breath and relax a little. No. And we're all in this together.

Dan Wheeler: 11:33

Well, Terry, this is my first hurricane and even talking to you today. And you were like, well, you know, we've been through it. And I'm like, okay, maybe I need to just relax, you know, calm, I was running around getting gas, like Brian and I are running out and check our generator and trying to put up these crazy things over our windows. It's like, hey, you know, Brian are our best defense is go to the rock, right? Who's higher than I? And the Lord, he knows he knows all about it. And he can move storms. The winds in the seas still obey Him, He can change stock market's up. There's a lot of hope. Now, if I wasn't a Christian, I think I would really be kind of freaked out. But we have hope. Right? John, did you want to say something jump in?

John Matarazzo: 12:17

Yeah, you said, you know, God can change the stock market, he can do all those things, I just want to tell a quick story of how I saw God knew that I needed $3,200, to pay off my school that I was going to in Cape Town, South Africa, I raised the money. And then whenever I got there, I actually went to pay the fee, the exchange rate changed so much. Whenever I figured out that I needed $3,200, it was six ran to $1, when I went to actually pay, and God had told me before to trust him for more, so that I could be a blessing to others. And that was that was the thing that I heard God say trust me for more so that I can be a blessing for that. So you can be a blessing for others. So it went from six to one, to 10 to one just for a short period of time. So what I thought was going to be $3,200 ended up being like $2,000, and that I had $1,200 that I was able to bless other people with and I got blessed with that as well. And then shortly after that, it went back up again. And so I'm like, Okay, God, you you shifted the entire economy of the country. To show your favor on me. Well, Lord, you can do that with Dow Jones. Man,

Brian Roland: 13:37

that's fantastic. Good stuff.

Terry Steen: 13:39

Well, Dan, you talk about being a Christian or non Christian and obviously as a Christian and believing in God, we can go to prayer, can't we and, and I was thinking of the verse in Psalm 910, and 11, it says it and those who know your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion. And so even beyond just prayer, when we go to a matter of praising whenever we're facing uncertain times, we're going to be apprehensive and that's normal. But what do we do with our apprehension? That's what matters. So the more we trust God, the more we can naturally worship Him. And when we trust them with our problems, then that enables our heart to praise him more freely. And that worship just opens things up and removes the fear and it dissipates in the strength and the power in the presence of God becomes all the more strong in our own lives as we just pray and worship the Lord. You know,

Brian Roland: 14:52

one thing I was thinking about too, especially when John was talking, saying, Okay, John, there's going to be more coming your way because we're older and we remember A lot of things that scared us at one time, but we saw how God helped us to overcome it. And we can go back to that. And we can say, that's our foundation, we can stand on this now, the things that we had to go through that we didn't want to face at the time, but when you see it down the road, and what it meant and how God was preparing the way that you can lean back on that means so much now, and builds builds by faith, just thinking that God did this before. Why would he do it? Again? Some people say, Oh, God is a Harris anymore. Yes, he does. He hears us, He sees us. He knows what's going on. And if you just fall back on what he did for you in the past, you know, he could do it again in the future. And you will,

Dan Wheeler: 15:42

Brian, that is such an important point. And that's, we want to bring that up. You know, Terry's mentioned prayer, so important. God's promises going to them in the Scripture, it's extremely important that we do it every day, and we stand on those promises. But looking back, and remembering, as Brian just said, you know, I may not have as dramatic a testimony as Derek last week, I wasn't into drugs or anything, but I got away from the Lord and God did a miracle in my life. That was incredible. Just totally changed me. I'm a new person. And you know, here I was living, you know, outwardly I was this Christian, but I wasn't living, right. But, but I look back, you know, and I became suicidal. And God saved me out of that. And I look back on that not to go back to that place. But I'm thankful. Every time I think about I say, Yeah, God, you pulled me through that. And I was thinking of a song. David will, you know, the Imperials. He used to sing in my church a lot. And David passed away just I think, a year ago or so and wonderful guy, but he used to sing this song, I cannot fail the Lord. He said, He has never failed me yet. all of life's trials he has met. And I cannot fail the Lord. But it's so true. He's met every single trial.

Terry Steen: 17:05

Yeah, yeah. Even when we're talking about, we've been focused a little bit on the stock market, because it's gotten really crazy. But the reality is, I've been through a lot of highs and lows in the stock market, as you guys have to I remember a number of years ago, where it really tanked. People got fearful and pulled out and money. Yeah. And we stayed in trusted the Lord kept doing what you know, to do to be a good steward. And it all came back plus more. And you have to focus and remember what God has done in our lives over the years.

Dan Wheeler: 17:48

Yeah, yeah. I think we all have certain ways that we overcome our fear. Let's talk about them. I mean, for me, it's that morning time of clearing my head and just saying, God, do you know what I'm going to face today? You know, what I faced yesterday, and something has been coming into my head over the last year. I think it's God speaking to me. And he says to me, I have protected you. I am protecting you, and I will protect you. And, boy, when I just sense that my spirit, I get a hold that I say God is in control. And that's where fearless faith comes from, you know, it's not that we are these great heroes of the faith. We are certainly not we're just listening. But our God can do anything. It's not how much faith you have. It's who your faith is in. And our faith is in the God of the universe, we have to remind ourselves of that.

Brian Roland: 18:51

It's interesting, because I was praying, I can't remember what it was for right now. But I remember just hearing about you just said, God, the universe, but I remember hearing to ask, you're talking about heavens, armies, you know, God, God, and gods and heavens, armies, and he'll, he'll just, they'll protect you. And then you know, they'll attack and I'm thinking, Man, when you look around and up, we can see what spiritualize what's all around us at any time. You know, that would be I think that would just blow us away to know that we don't have to be fearful. I mean, we need to have the faith that God wants us to have the trust in him and what he has for us. And although things may look weak tomorrow, the next week, but who knows what's gonna happen two weeks from now, you don't know. You got to have that faith. And I think that we we start living that way. And it's it becomes more natural. Once things go start going bad it gets, you have that faith that's going to come up and God's gonna take care of it because you're putting your trust and faith in Him.

Terry Steen: 19:52

And you know, God has a way of bringing the scriptures around that you need at the right time. And things like flood beans for six and seven that we all know so well be anxious for nothing. but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, He tells us what to do. And then there's this promise, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. And in this case, we need our minds guarded because that's where that fear that's where the doubt that's where the the enemy tries to plant those seeds in our minds, right to keep us from having the peace that we know we can have through him by just trusting him.

Brian Roland: 20:44

You know, it's interesting what you just said there, too, about what's going on in your mind the voices you hear in your mind. Yeah. And it's that's where it comes from. That's where the that's what wants to give you fear, because it's also in this very hearing this. But as I sit there at times, I'm going oh, wait a minute. That's can't be from God. I'm sorry that can that that voice? I just started there. That can't be from God. Because he he wouldn't. He wouldn't say I don't think he's t tests me that way. I think it's just that that's the voice that I'm hearing from outside that I gotta go no, get behind me there. No, that's not right. My faith is right here right now. And I know where I'm leaning on.

Dan Wheeler: 21:21

You know, I was just Terry, I was gonna say Philippians, four, six. And when you went to that, first, the story of Elijah came to my mind. So went back to Second Kings 616. And Brian, we've talked about this on this podcast, where Alicia could see all the chariots surrounding him, but his servant couldn't. And he prayed and he said, you know, help my servant and in verse 16, of chapter six second Kings, he answered, fear not For they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elijah prayed and said, Lord, I pray the open his eyes that he may see in the Lord opened the eyes of the young man. And he saw and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots and fire round about Elijah. See, those are the stories we can go to. Right. Yeah, and we can fall back on. So we have our friends, we, we go to our friends, we talk things over we pray, we pray together, we talk to the God of the universe. We read the Bible, we stand on his promises. We remember how God has pulled us through. I'm going to ask each of you what's your favorite verses that has helped you when you think about worry or fear? I have so many of them. But Isaiah 26 Three says that God will keep that man in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on the and I think it's you know, let's face it, Satan attacks us in our mind. That's where he tries to get us fearful through the news and everything. But if our mind has stayed on the Lord, He will help us in if you guys have a favorite verse you go to

Brian Roland: 22:53

Well, I had that one call them too but I but I just always love like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Oh, yeah. And it's always gonna be there.

Dan Wheeler: 23:04

Philippians 413 That's my grandson Cole's verse. Yeah, John you've got one

John Matarazzo: 23:10

Yeah, I got one that I go is always go back to his first John for for greater is He that is in you.

Unknown: 23:16

Oh, yeah, it is in the world. Hey, man. Yeah, oh, that's

John Matarazzo: 23:21

a Sunday school. And that is something that I've always held on to greater is He that is in May, that he that is in the world. And another one is in Psalms, I can't remember the reference. But it says that the Lord is the one who holds your hand. And he's gonna lead and guide you and walk with you through whatever you're going through

Dan Wheeler: 23:41

Godly wisdom from the youngest among us out of the Monterey Bay, John.

Terry Steen: 23:48

Hi, remember, frequently John, the 14th chapter. And it's the 27th verse and Jesus was talking and he said, Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you? And then he says, Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid. He's telling us he'll give us that peace. We don't need to be troubled or fearful. Right.

Dan Wheeler: 24:15

Beautiful. That yeah, that's a great one. John, did you have one more?

John Matarazzo: 24:19

The reference? The reference for that was Psalm 3724. Oh, okay. Hold your hand. Yeah.

Dan Wheeler: 24:27

So look up those verses play this podcast back, be strengthened. There are so many great verses. You know, God speaks to us, but He wants us to be been a faith. Guys as we talk about finishing strong, overcoming fear. We need to be telling others about Him because there's a lot of fear out there. There's never been a time where I think people are looking for the answer. And, you know, we need to say hey, there is a way that you can Have faith there is someone you can count on, who will never let go of you will hold your hand. And he'll never let you down. Any final thoughts?

Terry Steen: 25:10

Well, you know, it's it's always encouraging to spend a little time even though we're quoting these for our podcast, it builds us up to doesn't. Because we know that we all have, like you said up front, then there just seems to be more and more fears that and anxiety in our life, and we don't know if it's old age or just circumstances, but boy, just here in the scriptures, is just strengthening my faith just a little bit more.

Brian Roland: 25:40

You know, I agree with their 100% There, it's I just got back from visiting with my cousins and just to be able to take some time and to share what's been going on in the last year and a half that we hadn't seen them. And the different things that has happened in our lives, you know, we can see where God has worked and what he's doing. It means a lot and in you start referencing that more, the older you get you go back to that and, and think how God is using you now and how he's used you before. where we've come from, to I think that's the best thing where you come from the place we are now and how I'm graduating to appear more faithful and fearless person in Christ.

Dan Wheeler: 26:17

Yet we've come this far by faith laying on the Lord, trusting in His Holy Word. He's never failed us yet. My thanks to John Matarazzo, Terry Steen Brian rollin and thank you for listening. We hope that we've encouraged you move your focus away from the fear and focus on your faith in God Almighty, He loves you. He loves you so much he died for you. Turn your eyes towards Jesus, He will not let you down another great episode of fearless faith. Hey, share this with other people. Other friends. Spread the word. We're so thankful that you listen to this episode and we'll see you next time God bless.

John Matarazzo: 27:01

Thank you for listening to finish strong. For more information about finish strong and fearless faith. Check out their website F faith.org. Make sure that you rate and review this podcast to help more people accomplish their God given purpose so that together we can finish strong