Found this old blog post that I like:
Have you ever been frustrated at something that seems to be all around you that you can’t do anything about?
That’s how I feel about fear. You see, I keep running into so many people who are owned by fear. What dictates their decisions or course of action is fear. Fear of enemies, fear of the future, fear of health, fear of culture, fear caused by insecurities and fear of not being in control. They are simply held captive.
Jesus spent so much of his time teaching us to not be afraid. He implored people to do the things that would vanquish fear — such as blessing our enemies, forgiving people, asking forgiveness, praying to God about worries and concerns, ordering our priorities and much more. Salvation and redemption, if nothing else, speak to God’s heart for setting captives free!
The funny thing about fear is that it is a weak bully. When it is confronted it will usually disappear. If only we would value freedom and peace of mind enough to confront our fears, admit our faults, make peace with our enemies and trust that God actually is in control!
Thanks for your post, Ken. I love the line, “Salvation and redemption, if nothing else, speak to God’s heart for setting captives free!” Why does it take us so long to actually begin to experience the freedom from fear granted us on the day we accept Jesus’ sacrifice that granted us liberty?
I find the place that fear can grip me and begin to take over my emotions more than anywhere else is in the area of my children’s well-being, both temporal and eternal. If, as John (4:18) says, “perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” I wonder several things. 1-Is my imperfect love for my children the basis of my fear? 2-Or is it a deficit in my understanding of God’s love for me? 3-Or #2,coupled with a poor comprehension of the depth of love God has for my kids, limiting my trusting him with their well-being in every arena? Another thing I think about is that since God has no fear, his love for me–and them–is perfect. I wonder what it is like to love like that.
My girls are grown, yet only in the last 10 years or so am I beginning to understand the pure delight God has in me…while seeing me absolutely as I am. I’ve been able to better comprehend the parent-love he has for me in part because of the deep, albeit imperfect love I have for my daughters. This slow realization has allowed me to experience God in a different way. I’m the antithesis of a mystical/touchy-feely person about God, yet that incipient understanding of his delight in me, born in part of loving my own children, has added a lot to my ability to talk honestly and comfortably with God; to trust him more, and fear less. I’ve heard (not from Christian sources, I admit) that the two motivating forces in life are fear and love (some suggest shame as a third, although that might fit under fear…) and to me that seems to be supported by Jesus’ (w/John as proxy) teaching and life example.
On a lighter note, the frustration you feel when you want to help people overcome the fears they are gripped by can be mitigated (for you, the bystander, at least) with one of these quick, guilt-inducing responses. Try “you just need to trust’,or “stand on God’s promises”, and, self-righteously “Isn’t YOUR God big enough?” Use these on the assumption that perfect guilt can at least temporarily displace, at least, fear. It worked on me for years!!
Thanks-
Kim McKaig
“Jesus spent so much of his time teaching us to not be afraid.”
Yeah… right… Religion is founded on fear.
There are over 162 references in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) which warn of Hell. Over 70 of these references are attributed to Jesus. According to the gospels, Jesus spoke more on Hell than on any other subject.
Matt 13:42: “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matt 25:41: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” This passage relates to Jesus’ judgment of all the world.
Mark 9:43-48: And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.” The reference to fire is repeated three more times in the passage for emphasis.
Luke 16:24: “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” This is a plea described as coming from an inhabitant of Hell.
Revelation 20:13-15: “…hell delivered up the dead which were in them…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving … shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.”
Matthew 8:12: “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness…”
Matthew 22:13: “…take him away, and cast him into outer darkness.”
Revelation 14:10: “…and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” The “Lamb” here refers to Jesus. It is not clear whether Jesus and the angels are present as torturers or merely as observers.
Matthew 25:46: ” And these shall go away into EVERLASTING punishment.”
Revelation 14:11: ” And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night…”
Religion is founded on fear. Break free of it!
I’ll be surprised if this post is not screened and deleted. Yet all I’m doing is quoting the ‘holy bible’.
Ken, Thank you for posting this again. Fear has been my word of the month. Why does fear have to be the decision maker so often. Thank you for the reminder that it is not.