It is not hard to recognize the reality of fear in our world today. Just watching the stock market on a daily basis attests to the environment of fear in which we live. People are scared that they might lose their jobs, their homes, their retirement, and so on.
The worst thing about fear is the fact that it is self-perpetuating; it has a snowball effect. Once fear gets rolling in an economy, or a community, or in your own mind it is impossible to stop. Before you know it you are overcome and it influences your every decision. Your entire perspective becomes colored with fear. But what is it that makes us afraid? Can fear be boiled down to something? I think so.
Very often the sensation of fear is accompanied by the feeling of being out of control. Actually, it is often the cause of fear. Your kids are out past their curfew, and you don’t know where they are. You have no control over the situation, and you begin to fear. Your investments are shrinking, and there is no bottom in sight. You can’t control the market, and it makes you afraid. Your spouse is very sick in the hospital, and the treatment doesn’t seem to be working. You don’t know how to help him or her, and you fear the worst.
I think we fear because we know we are out of control. Most of the time we spend our days and nights creating and maintaining our illusion of control over our lives, but there is always some reminder every day that it is simply an illusion. As a result, there is always a creeping fear in the back of our minds. We are afraid to actually admit that we are not ultimately calling the shots.
So often we hear people telling us, “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.” I don’t know about you, but my response is usually, “How do you know? Aren’t you in the same boat as me?” I know it is well-intended, but it never seems to help. The only way that it will be okay is if there is someone somewhere who actually does know what’s going on, someone that is not surprised by life’s curve-balls, and, most importantly, someone who is trustworthy.
Whenever I hear the typical Christian response that “God is in control.” I tend to get a little more worried. Unfortunately, my mind always goes to Old Testament examples of God’s power that seem very scary, and frankly they don’t often encourage me. It is only when someone reminds me about Jesus that I begin to calm down. He is the one that shows me who God is. He is the one that proved trustworthy and faithful on the cross for us. He is the one that proved God is love, and that His desire is for mercy. Jesus is the one who can come into our cycle of fear, our extremely uncomfortable relationship with our own lack of control, and speak a word of comfort. When he says, “Do not be afraid.” We know it is not mere lip-service to our despair because of what he did for us on the cross. It stands across time as the answer to our fear of being lost, left alone, and dead. His perfect love casts out all fear.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
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8 responses to “Fear”
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Terrific stuff. Every time I hear “God is in control”, my eyes roll. I know it’s true but I suspect the person is just spiritualizing because they don’t have anything really to say about it.
Really nice, Sean.
Preach it, brother. I think people are afraid even of fear. Isn’t that the saying? “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Which basically means nothing, but I think we just have so little comfort with the realm of fear. We all want to avoid it, get out of it, or get in control of it. So people just say something – often the things they hear other people say – despite how pithy, foolish or irrelevant it may be in reality.
Fear is generally of the unknown, or the imagined… Sometimes I think we dwell too much in the “What ifs” or the “whys” of life and it criples us. Like Aslan says to Lucy in the Chronicles of Narnia (I forget which of the books…), and I’m paraphrasing here but: You cannot dwell in the What Ifs of life. These are not for you to know. You can only do the best with the situation you are in.
… Something like that.
Anyways, great post. Thanks, Sean!
Just what I needed right now.
Thank you Sean.
Thanks for helping us to think through this one…I wonder if I, for one, have been too farsighted when it comes to fear. What I mean is that I find it easier to apply Jesus’ ‘fear not’ to the prospect of my death than I do to speaking my mind when I know I may be the minority. Perhaps the inevitability of death makes control less of an issue. I’ll (hopefully) have to see if I feel the same way in 50 years. 🙂
We can only hope Dylan:)
Sean, what a great post, thanks. Lately, I’ve been most afraid about the most obviously out of control part of our lives–the future!(And sometimes the subway…) And like you, when I think about God being in control my default is to assume that judgment and punishment and trial are forthcoming. Or sometimes I try to trick myself with thoughts like “God loves me and wants good for me and therefore someday we’ll be financially set and won’t have to worry about anything.” I’m glad for the reminder of Jesus and the cross, and that it’s there where we find our source for peace and being unafraid and are pointed to our loving and gracious God.
Thank you, Sean. I needed that. I can also relate to what you are saying Dylan! My fear of what people think drives me crazy with self doubt and anxiety.
The objective reality of God’s love is what I truly need and continue to long for. That’s why this blog is such water to my parched soul!
Good one Sean!
The old sinner in us does not like to hear "God is in control" in His hiddeness. Because then the old sinner in us begins to question who this God is. But when I hear that Christ's loving, healing, & pierced hands for my sins is holding me & sustaining me all the way through, and opening my unfolding future… then I know that God is on my side know matter what hits me.