If I were to make a top ten list of things that keep us from growing closer to God, topping that list would be fear. Fear can paralyze us and rob us from joy in life. Fear can keep us from being used by God. Fear stinks. You know what they say, you can smell fear.
Fear is often rooted in a false sense of reality.
There is a story in Mark 4 where the disciples were going for a boat ride and the wind started to pick up. In fact it got so windy they started to fear for their lives. Jesus was in the boat but the wind didn't seem to bother him. In fact, he was asleep! On a pillow! The disciples wake him up to try to speak some sense into him. But at that point, if you were to choose, who had the better grasp on reality? Jesus or the disciples? Common sense would say the disciples. But in the back of our minds we know the answer is really Jesus. He was asleep because he knew that at any moment he could say the word, wave his hand and everything would be back to calm. But the disciples did see that reality. That is why they were afraid.
When we understand the power of the one who is in the boat with us, the closer we are to seeing the reality of any situation, no matter how threatening. Fear looks at the waves. Faith sees the one who is in the boat with us.
You even after the sea was calm the disciples were afraid. This time they were frightened by Jesus. Actually, the greek word used to describe their fear means something like, "awe" or "reverance." That is the only kind of fear that mixes well with faith. It is the kind of fear that sees more clearly the reality of Jesus.
Next time you sense fear paralyzing you, stop looking at the waves and keep your eyes on the one asleep in your boat!
PRESS ON!
Jesse Owens is a great example of someone who faced fear rooted in a false perception of aryan supremacy. He demonstrated the reality of his athletic superiority by winning 4 gold medals on Nazi turf. Awesome!
1 comment:
Fear keeps me from doing lots of things, and it gets in the way of doing God's word. For example, just writing this comment is scary since I'm afraid you might think it is stupid and that I'm therefore lacking something upstairs. However, I noticed that noone else has written anything so either noone is reading this, or others are afraid or nervous of writing too. So - I'm going to try writing something anyway.
For years fear kept me from stepping out of my little haven. And then one day I realized that I was not being true to myself and especially to God, so I slowly stepped out.
The trip tomorrow to the D.R. is very scary for me. I'm afraid of the food, the heat, parasites and other bugs, the heat, the work, being tired, and did I mention the heat? But I am hoping, no... trusting, that God will help me deal with all this and more. And it is my hope and belief that my faith will grow through the experience.
What do you fear?
Post a Comment