Fear, Insanity, and the Battle for Your Mind

What do fear and insanity have to do with each other?

If you have ever been on the brink of “losing your mind,” then you know that fear was part of that disturbance. I used to be afraid of going crazy, to the point that I did not want to get deliverance because I might lose my mind. This was an irrational fear; there was no natural substance to provoke me to such fear. However, a spirit of fear was an inheritance from my mother. She had many fears, and so do most people; we just don’t always recognize what those fears are connected to.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Tim 1:7

Fear is defined as a strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion or feeling caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

A phobia is an irrational fear of something or someone. Fear, dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror, and trepidation all mean painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger. Fear implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

The Power God Gave Us

The power that we have been given is a deed of power, the power of Jesus Christ transferred onto us through the legal work of the cross.

“The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” – 1 Corinthians 4:20

This power is dynamis, the same Greek word used for the gift of miracles. It describes the ability to perform an activity by extension—power that enables us to perform under great pressure. This is the power of God extended to believers.

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits…” – Matthew 10:1

Jesus extended exousia power to us by first giving it to His apostles and then to all disciples. This is the power to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the gospel.

As believers, we have the capacity and competency of strength in our bodies and minds to do what we are called to do.

Understanding Insanity and the Sound Mind God Promised

Insanity is a severely disordered state of the mind. Legally, an insane person is not of sound mind or lacks the ability to understand. Insanity is also defined as something utterly foolish or unreasonable.

The scripture in Timothy uses three strong words—fear, power, and sound—to describe God’s intentions for our lives. A sound mind is the opposite of insanity. It is self-controlled, self-disciplined, makes sound judgment, and acts sensibly.

In today’s world, we see the spirit of insanity at work across many areas of government and society. One example is the transgender movement, which uses confusion and manipulation to get people to join its beliefs—such as allowing men to compete in women’s sports or use women’s bathrooms. Yes, the world has lost its mind, and we can no longer make sense of many people’s behavior.

The word dysphoria means “a state of feeling very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied.” Anyone can feel dysphoric when life hits hard. But for believers, our joy is found in the Lord, not in circumstances.

Fear vs. Faith: Two Opposing Forces

Fear is a painful and passionate emotion. Our emotions often lead us astray. We live by faith, not fear. If fear leads to anxiety, dread, panic, and terror, then faith leads to calm, peace, and joy in the midst of chaos.

The word panic originates from the god Pan. Pan was credited with terrifying many. Panic is sudden, unreasoning terror. Trepidation is a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation. This is the kind of fear that comes out of nowhere and is hard to pinpoint.

Fear gripped many nations during COVID-19. People associated any sickness with the pandemic and would run to test or isolate, even when they didn’t have COVID. Fear can enter our lives when we are isolated and weak.

Fear can also lead us to control others and engage in manipulation. It can cause our minds to run away from us and lead to mental illness. Most mental illness diagnoses started with fear.

Jesus and the Mentally Tormented

Approximately 24 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia. Many never receive treatment. Jesus dealt with mentally tormented people by casting out demonic spirits. Then they were healed and found sitting at His feet in their right mind.

Mark 5:2–6, 15 describes the man with the unclean spirit—violent, uncontrollable, and terrifying. His presence caused fear because of the “what ifs.” The "what ifs" are the scariest part of life.

But we are told to put on Christ. As heirs, we have privileges. The problem is that fear often speaks louder than faith. Faith is a weapon we must practice using regularly.

The Real Battle: Spiritual Warfare

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. - Eph 6:12 NKJV

We have a war to attend. We must dress for the occasion. God has given us armor—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

We also have emotional and spiritual weapons: love, joy, faith, righteousness, and peace.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God…” – 2 Cor 10:4–6

How we respond to the frustrations of life will dictate our lives. Do we respond with pride, anger, and irritation, or do we refuse to let anything take us out of the peace of God?

Prayer: Our Number One Weapon

We must pray according to God’s will, not our own. We use the Word of God to separate soul from spirit. We ask the Father for His will. If we don’t hear it by Spirit, we find it in the Word.

A double-minded man is unstable. A deaf and mute spirit is one of the strongmen behind fear and insanity.

James 1:6–7 tells us that the doubting person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Double-mindedness means two minds or two spirits—divided interests, two agendas, instability.

Deliverance is important, but it cannot end there. The person must be healed of their brokenness. If they have DID or alters, those must be identified and healed. The Word of God will not return void.

Whom Shall I Fear?

The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD [is] the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. With You, O Lord, on my side, I need not fear for what can man do to me? 

The Psalmist said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Fear aggressively tries to invade our souls and steal our trust in the Lord. We do not have to give in to it. Fear can manifest as sickness, allergies, and breathing problems. Psalm 27:1, 118:6, 56:3

Don’t panic – pray.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I need Your help. I confess my fears to You and ask that You release me from the demonic holds they have on me. I pray Your strength in me will make it possible to overcome even the most terrifying thoughts. I thank You in advance for making a way for me to be free. In Jesus name, Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RVvIPnTYfw