Why “Fear of God” is The Ultimate Cheat Code in My Life

I was hanging out with friends and family this past weekend at a nephew’s birthday party. 

And as it’s often the case, the conversations “devolved” into the hassles of daily life.

Why marriage is tough. Who’s running around on who? Parenting headaches. How is the president going to kill us?  And why are we all in line to be deported somehow? (I’m not kidding.) 

On the way home, I marveled at the sheer absurdity of all the angst and ruminated on what keeps me sane in a world with many folks visibly “shook” about daily routines and current world affairs. 

“My God is an awesome God” is the line of a song that comes to mind when I reflect on the mental peace and stability my life is engulfed in.

The kind of mental peace and stability I often wish and pray for for those in my inner circle.

That’s why when I got home, I created the following “cheat sheet” of the prolific, life-enhancing benefits that being God-fearing has led me to. 

I know what you’re thinking, “fear” doesn’t exactly sound like a life hack.  But stay with me—because what the Bible calls “fear of God” is less about trembling terror and more about living with profound awe, reverence, and respect for the One that made you.

Similar to the vibe between parent and child but on a universal level. 

It’s a perspective shift that’s brought me more mental clarity, stability, peace, and contentment than any self-help book could ever provide.

Check these out:

“Fear of God” is Freedom from Lesser Fears 

Imbibing this mindset is anxiety’s kryptonite for me.

Here’s the paradox: when I hold God in the highest awe, all those lesser fears I used to deal with routinely—failure, career uncertainty, physical ailments—shrink to their actual size. 

I don’t know where I remember reading this, but it said something like, “We fear circumstances so much because we fear God so little.” EXACTLY!

Daily anxieties lose their grip when I run my worldly affairs through God’s filter. It’s like installing a spiritual/emotional firewall: threats still pop up, but they can’t crash the system.

Anchoring My Priorities

Take it from me—it is easy to get lost in the noise of the world—career, kids, relationships, social media, the endless scroll, world-ending existential threats… etc. I’ve been there much to my detriment at times.   

But the fear of God as my beacon in life is a game-changer.

A “fear of God” mindset is like having a built-in GPS navigation system that reroutes me when I start focusing too much on what matters least.  

I am able to cut through time-sucking temptations and distractions with laser focus.

As I tell my children regularly, I’ve come to understand that most of what popular culture glorifies is fake, meaningless, and lacking substance. 

This is all because I have become acquainted with seeing God’s instruction as the anchor in my life. Thank goodness!

Moral Compass 

Having a deep sense of trust in a transcendent being is liberating because it simplifies moral issues.

Knowing that I’m accountable to something greater than public opinion makes it so much easier to do the right thing.

For example, if you are God-fearing, you are deeply aware of God’s view regarding the sanctity of life. It is a gift that no human has anything to do with, and it is repeatedly viewed as sacrosanct in scripture.

Let that sink in, and then explain how some of us sometimes arbitrarily choose death. Suicide is such an affront to your Creator. The nerve of such an action is mind-boggling.

Therefore, I find life and death issues are not moral struggles when The Almighty influences your conscience meaningfully.

Weathering Life’s Storms

Certainly, life throws curveballs. 

But the fear of God gives me unshakable confidence that I can get through anything. And sure enough, I  credit the Lord Almighty for pulling me through my “midlife crisis.”

But I know it sounds “cliche-ish” to say that. This type of language sounds like fanciful wishful thinking if you are a nonbeliever. 

You’ve probably even prayed a couple of times, and nothing happened, so you’re skeptical.

But of course, God knows if your intent is sincere and pure.

I suffered greatly when my relationship with my Creator was merely lukewarm. I had to make a concerted effort to seek and get to know His Holiness.

After a while on that path, I looked back at what was transpiring in my life and saw His hand. The more I learned and connected with The Lord, the easier it became to see His influence in my life.

But again, you have to be sincerely on that road to understand what it’s like to feel safe even when you perceive “bad energy” engulfing you. 

It’s a sobering and amazing experience, and I pray you experience it.

Wisdom Unlocked

Let’s talk wisdom. The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom isn’t just about knowing stuff. It’s about having a “sixth sense” for best processing and making moves and decisions in this world.

A mindset with “the fear of God” sees the world as diametrically opposite to a secular perspective. 

For one, my God-fearing perspective’s number one goal in anything is ascertaining what is true. This is the mandate that God has imposed on my conscience when I analyze my world.

This is not necessarily the case from the secular perspective. Just look around. Many people in our society think it’s wise to act on what feels good or sounds good. Not what is true.

The case of train rider Daniel Penny in New York proves that, and there are many other such examples. 

The point is that being God-fearing has equipped me with a moral code and, thereby, the wisdom to ascertain right from wrong, even when the rest of society seems to be going bananas.

The Real Cheat Code

The real cheat code is full engagement with the Creator of the universe. Ever since I’ve been ten toes down on being God-fearing, my perspective on reality has never been the same. 

Let’s just say that the problems of the world are not that daunting when I let the Creator of it all lead the way. That’s the ultimate life hack for optimal living.