MY REPLY TO BEN

Fear is indeed a terrible thing, and to think that there are people who constantly live their lives in fear reveals a really terrible situation that people are in.
The apostle John wrote about the torment of fear in 1 JOHN 4:18, intimating us that the unbeliever really has no hope of overcoming fear, and that the believer, who is learning and experientially knowing God’s love can live in victory over fear.
Also, in 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 which you mentioned, Paul admonishes Timothy to know that the spirit of fear does not have its source or root in God, and contrasts it power, love, and a sound mind. In other words, living in fear means that the believer does not get to experience power, love and a sound mind. This is tragic indeed.
Both texts gives the believer a great and much needed hope that living above fear is a possibility for him as he navigates life’s challenges every day.
Indeed, nothing is more paralyzing and weakening like fear. Nothing causes a person to want to run and hide and retreat like fear. Adam is a good example of this. After he sinned against, he hid himself from God because he was afraid.
The story of Adam shows how terrible the effects of fear can be. It also shows us that fear can make a person to hide even from God Himself, and ultimately, whatever has the capacity to cause a believer to run and hide from God in fear, has the capacity to cause him to run and hide from God’s purpose for his lives and abort his destiny.
It is absolutely impossible to live a life that is purposeful, meaningful, fulfilling and God glorifying with fear in the heart, for without faith, pleasing the Lord is impossible. HEBREWS 11:6.