"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

In verses 6-14 the Apostle Paul is reminding Timothy of his responsibility to the ministry to which he was ordained:
"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." 1 Timothy 4:14

Our opening verse reveals Timothy as fearful and lacking confidence in the tasks that lie ahead. Do we not also fear what tomorrow might bring? Jesus Himself has told us, "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles." Matthew 5:34 (Be sure to read again Vs. 19-34 for Jesus' reassurance.)

With all the things that are happening in our county and the world, we do hear that people are afraid, but for the Christian, Scripture gives us many commands (notice they are not options) to 'not fret'; to 'not fear'; to be 'anxious for nothing.
"Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb." Psalm 37:1-2 And, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 Also, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God." Philippians 4:6

Since God has not given us a spirit of fear, let us as Believers be
fearless!:
"Though a host encamp against me,
My heart shall no fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident." Psalm 27:3

"You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or the arrow that flies by day." Psalm 91:5

"The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:6

"Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

It is God who 'has not given us a spirit of fear, but...'
But is that very instructive pivotal word -- 'but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.'

But moves us from what God has dealt with for the Christian, to what He has prepared for us to embrace and to walk in:
A spirit of power:
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Acts 4:33 tells us that it enables men to speak with authority, "And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all."

A spirit of love:
"For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love." Galatians 5:6 Amplified Bible

"And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:14

A sound mind:
"We demolish arguments and every pretensions that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

I close with our opening verse as given in the Amplified Bible:
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power, and of love and a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control.

Thank you Lord for that pivotal word 'but' for it causes us to look closely at what follows and to go back and closely look at what comes before. It can either lead us to the grace upon grace that you pour forth on us or act as a signal of warning. How gracious, loving and caring are You Lord!
All praise and honor are Yours always.  Amen