Welcome back to BeLED Family. I have been meditating on the Word of God, resting on a promise that was given to us through the Apostle Paul to Timothy – his son in faith in Jesus Christ. Timothy was experiencing many things during a difficult time for the new Church. He faced obstacles from without and within. If Timothy was to do a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)1, it would have been easy for him and the Church around him to focus on the Weaknesses (internal troubles) and Threats (external troubles).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
The government was moving against the church because it did not worship and participate in the Roman culture and religion 2,3. The Church itself was young and was facing constant identity crises from the varied cultures of their members4. It would be easy to get lost in the fear from without and the fear from within.
God has created us in such a way that our nervous system helps us when we are faced with the spirit of fear.5 In our physical bodies, the Nervous System has a main nerve, called the vagus nerve, that collects and responds to internal and external stimuli. The vagus nerve helps regulate our responses to what is happening around us and prepares our bodies to respond in the most effective and efficient way it knows.
This amazing design is one of the great ways that God protects mankind. It works in accordance with awareness and our conscious and subconscious habits6 (read my previous article God’s Gift of Awareness to learn more). When we are driven by fear rather than faith, we physically lose a sound mind and start making knee-jerk reactions. Then, we start prioritizing ourselves, losing love and concern for others. Eventually, we become powerless and either run, hide or freeze.7
Timothy’s situation seems to be similar to what the Church today feels like it is facing. Distrust grows towards the government’s response to the Church. The Church is struggling to maintain her core identity as rapid growth is happening across many varied cultures. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is “nothing new under the sun.”8 So we, like Timothy, need the reminder from God given by the Apostle Paul that we were not given a spirit of fear.
The Church and the followers of Jesus Christ were never intended to be driven by our Weaknesses and our Threats. From the foundation of the world, God gave us something much greater than the spirit of fear, knowing that the enemy would be lurking around every corner and would take every Opportunity to work against the Family of God.
You see, we are not the only ones who can do a SWOT analysis to help us stay on track. The enemy is acutely aware of the external Threats of the Kingdom of Light – Those being led by God: Armies of God9, the Family of God10, all of creation that can move in accordance with the Will of God when called upon11. However, the enemy doesn’t focus on fear of punishment for their deeds or fear of failure or fear of not being powerful enough. Instead, they are laser focused on their Opportunities to steal, kill, and destroy12.
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”
Are you going to give the enemy a foothold that makes it easier for them to find Opportunities to attack13? Are you going to let a spirit of fear determine your mindset and your actions14? Are you going to focus on the works of the enemy (Weaknesses and Threats) and allow the enemy to distract you from God’s purpose that was given to you before the foundation of the world15? My prayer is that your answer to each one of those is an emphatic NO!
Instead, I pray that you would also hear the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy – do not focus on the spirit of fear, it is not what your Father gave to you; it is a tactic of the enemy. Your Father gave you a gift – His Holy Spirit – a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of a sound mind.
Focus instead on your Strengths and Opportunities given to you as gifts from God, your loving Father16. As you do, remember the sacrifice of the Lord that gave you eternal life — Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension17. Follow the example set by Jesus to go forth with faith in the mighty power, love, and mind of God. You are a beloved child of your Heavenly Father. God desires to teach you His ways, to watch over you as you move forward, and to love you no matter the outcome as you walk with Him.
I pray that you would BeLED by Jesus, that you would be Light Entrusted Disciples of Jesus who find love, hope, and trust in the mighty Spirit of the Living God, sent by the Father in the name of Jesus to teach you and remind you of all these things18. Praise the Lord that He gave you the Holy Spirit that counters the spirit of fear!
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1 Teoli D, Sanvictores T, An J. SWOT Analysis. [Updated 2023 Sep 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537302/
3 Faith Under Fire: The Persecuted Church
5 Polyvagal Institute. What is the vagus nerve? https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/vagusnerve
6 Nelson A. God’s gift of awareness. BeLED Family LLC. 2025 Oct 16.
7 Adolphs R. The biology of fear. Curr Biol. 2013 Jan 21;23(2):R79-93. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.055. PMID: 23347946; PMCID: PMC3595162.
