How Do We Respond… Part 2 – No Fear
A balanced approach: Look at and stand on the truth of God’s Word.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. (Psalm 56:3-4)
“Everything is being canceled. The NBA games. The NHL games. March Madness. Broadway plays. Flights. Cruises. Cancellations, everywhere! But can I tell you the one thing that has not and WILL not be canceled? God will never cancel his promise to take care of us. Do not interpret the presence of problems as the absence of God. God has promised, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ He is with us. He is for us. He offers us peace in the face of uncertainty, and hope in exchange for heaviness.” [Max Lucado, https://maxlucado.com/listen/peace-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/]
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19, ESV) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (NIV)
“The enemy is vicious but he is not Victorious. I may sometimes feel afraid, but I don't have to live afraid. Most importantly, I can remember that fear doesn't have to pull me away from trusting God. Fear can actually be the catalyst for me choosing to trust God more than ever. Some things and situations have happened in the last week that could put me in a huge state of fear. Have I been a little anxious? Yes, but I am choosing to put my trust in the One who has been faithful and will continue to be faithful.” [Michelle Hoffman, posted on Facebook, 26 March 2020]
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)
“Drenched head to toe from the rain and seawater, Captain Wessler clung to the ropes that kept him upright as the ship climbed and dove over every large wave. He and his crew were weathered, experienced sailors, but three days of nothing but storm and wave, lightning and thunder, will take the starch out of anyone. Three days of storm meant three nights with no stars, no moon, no sightings. With nothing to navigate by, they could only keep their bow pointed into the waves and hope for the best. Who knows what might confront them out of the dark and rain? How long could this blasted storm continue? The worst part was the feeling of helplessness. At sea in the middle of a storm, there’s only so much you can control. Captain Wessler was doing his best to keep up the spirits of his sailors, but they all knew that their fate didn’t rest in their own hands.” [John Barcanic, Uncertain Seas, ©2020, Intersekt, pages 21-22]
Roller coasters: We’re not in control.
"In his 6th-century commentary on the Book of Job, St. Gregory pointed out that the Lord’s ways are very mysterious in that he sometimes allows GOOD things to happen to GOOD people. Back then, they expected
the Christian life to involve suffering and sacrifice, and used to worry if they were not suffering enough. Today, suffering is seen as a problem without easy answers. The general insight from Christianity is that, while suffering is not good in itself, there is no suffering in this life that cannot be turned into an instrument for good." [Andrew Pinsent, quoted by Leonard Sweet on Facebook]
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Make a “thanksgiving list.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR FURTHER STUDY AND MEDITATION:
Pastor Joel Christensen on Facebook: “Anxiety blinds us to the power of God. As we find ourselves becoming anxious, stop and pray! His peace will guard our hearts and minds!” Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." So, for example, if we think of God as being distant—we talked about that last week—then difficulties will jolt us far more easily than if we see Him as near, as close, as intimate.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:2-12) The God who is the Creator of everything is with us. He knows us intimately and still loves us. He knows every detail of your life, and He’s crazy about you. And if He’s taking care of sparrows and flowers, what are we worried about?
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9) …casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to
him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31) Tim Keller on Facebook: “Difficulties take away earthly comforts and then, through prayer and reflection on the Word, we are driven closer to God to get His unique consolations. The process is long and in many parts painful, but the fruit is a spiritual poise that no trouble can dislodge.”
One of our congregation posted this on Facebook: Me: Okay, God, here's the thing. I'm scared. I'm trying not to be, but I am. God: I know. Want to talk about it? Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know. God: Let's talk about it anyway... We've done this before. Me: I know, I just feel like I should be bigger or stronger of something by now. God: *waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed. Me: Okay. So, I'm afraid I'll do everything I can to protect my family and it won't be enough. I'm afraid of someone I love dying. I'm afraid the world won't go back to what it was before. I'm afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled. God: Anything else? Me: EVERYTHING ELSE. God: Remember how your son woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom? Me: Yes. God: You were still awake, so when you heard him running, you started calling out to him before he even got to you... remember? Do you remember what you called out to him? Me: I said, "You're okay! You're okay! You're okay! I'm here." God: Why did you call to him? Why didn't you just wait for him to get to your room? Me: Because I wanted him to know that I was awake, and I heard him, and he didn't have to be afraid until he reached the end of the dark hallway. God: Exactly. I hear you, my child. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the dark hallway. There's another side to all of this. I'm there already. I've seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you're okay. I haven't gone to sleep, and I won't. Me: *crying. Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all? God: There's nothing I'd enjoy more.
