The Bible teaches that fearing the Lord and trusting in the Lord are inextricably linked. Consider this well-known Proverb–Prov. 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
What are a husband’s common fears that can cause him to end up potentially ensnared?
- Fear of being exposed as a bad leader, so he hides weakness or gets defensive, thus proving himself to be a bad leader;
- Fear of not having answers or direction, so he avoids difficult matters or makes decisions rashly on his own;
- Fear of being ruled by his wife or the weaknesses of his wife, so he aggressively deals with her to keep her in check;
- Lastly, fear of his wife getting upset for doing things he believes are God-honoring and right, so he fails to provide the proper direction for his wife and the family in order to maintain superficial peace in the home.
As with any sin, fearing the Lord is the remedy for sinful fear–Ps. 112:1 Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who greatly delights in His commandments… 7 He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear…
The greatest blessing of fearing the Lord is to be delivered from the snares mentioned above. May we as husbands have the right fear!