Finding Faith in the Midst of Fear

FEAR.  Probably one of the most common emotions we experience as homo- sapiens .  Motivated by anxiety over what may (or may not) happen next, fear is a reaction to uncertainty and to the unknown.  To be human is to fear, an inescapable, inevitable, truth.  Ironically, one of the few certainties we have in life is that our lives will be full of fear- generated by the uncertainty that exemplifies life.

So what do we do with fear?  Ignore it, embrace it, deny it?  Life is a lot like a rickety roller coaster.  You sit in the rusty seat, bring down the bar, which only partially locks, and debate on whether you should close your eyes tight or open them wide. If you squeeze them closed, you can’t see what’s coming, yet despite not being able to see, the sudden twists and turns still lurch you and leave you fearful and breathless all the same.  The ostrich approach to life is just denial of the realities of life, but it doesn’t prevent them from happening. If you leave your eyes open, you fearfully watch what you have no authority over unfold.  You have no control over the speed or what is around the next corner, and all you can do is hold tight hoping you won’t get pitched over the side or that the structure itself doesn’t collapse underneath you.  The anxiety generated by trying to predict, anticipate, or control every possible scenario of what might happen next does not allow you to escape fear; in fact, it makes you more fearful of an innumerable series of events that may in fact never come to pass.

The Bible says not to fear in one form or another 365 times throughout its pages.  That’s one for every single day of the year! I don’t think that is a coincidence-  perhaps God is asking us to turn to Him each morning and thank Him for His presence and trust in Him rather than choosing to fixate on what is wrong, has gone wrong, or will go wrong.  Dwell on His love rather than your fear. If you say something to your kids 365 times, you expect them to eventually take note, to acknowledge what you’re saying, to adjust their behavior accordingly. Granted, they usually won’t listen, but coupled with the hard knocks of reality, they will eventually put two and two together and realize that there is a correlation between the nonsense coming out of their parent’s mouths and the fact that a hot stove will in fact burn you if you touch it. Maybe not until they are 20, but life is an excellent teacher.    Likewise, I think it is safe to assume that if God’s word repeats anything over 300 times, it’s probably for our own good and He probably expects us to take note- even if we’re AARP members by the time it sinks in.

This is a fallen world, no one gets through life unscathed, but God knows what is about to befall us before we experience it and will loving guide us and help us through it, promising that he will be our constant companion; and if we’re willing, he will make us stronger through the storm,  teaching us to trust Him and showing us how  we can help others through similar circumstances.

Fear is inevitable, life’s unexpected twists and turns will happen to us all, whether we’re rich, poor, famous, ordinary, faithful, or faithless.  However, if you picture yourself on a roller coaster seat that consists of the loving palm of God’s hand, there is no need for a seat belt, no need for fear.  His presence and love combined with our faith and trust in God’s provision will get us through whether the next twisting turn brings sorrow or joy, plenty or lack, healing or death.  In Mark 5:36, Jesus Himself commands, “Don’t be afraid.  Just have faith.”

We are surrounded by fear, fear mongering, and unpredictable, unpleasant events. There is nothing special or unique about this moment in time other than it is personal, because it’s happening to us. We want to avoid even getting on the roller coaster.  Yet, here we are. We don’t get a magical “get off the ride free card”.   There are multiple tragedies and chaos- producing events in every generation, every decade, every century, every millennium.  This is not a time to panic, to spread fear, to hoard, or to ignore the realities around us.  It is, however, a perfect time to pray, remember God’s promises, study God’s word, and in the wise words of Jesus, replace fear with faith. God isn’t the author of evil, He is the God who can make a miracle out of our mess.  Romans 8:28 promises that He can work all things for our good, in this life, and the next.

So to answer the question, “What do we do with fear?”  Acknowledge it, admit it, and turn it over to God.  Worry does not extend our life, or prevent life from happening.

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” Luke 12:25-31 (ESV)

We can’t control what the roller coaster of life will bring around the next corner, but we can control our thought life and whether we choose to spend our next breath futilely fostering fear and what we can’t control, or choosing to facilitate faith, one breath, one unpredictable day at a time.