Still Afraid…

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

You remember being afraid of the dark? Yes, you were… admit it. Remember all the things you could imagine being ready to pounce from the shadows… the monsters in the closet… the villain lurking in the hallway, the zombies appearing from under the bed. Remember how comforting it was to hear your Dad’s voice when he checked on you at night..? And how about that awesome ‘speed racer’ night light (that replaced the Winnie Pooh light of your younger days) The light glowed on the wall like a beacon of hope, a lighthouse guiding us lost ships of the night back home.

Being older now, and no longer relying on Tigger to help fight off Heffalumps and wuzzles, I find there are still things that cause fear and even panic. It seems these both rely on the ‘unknown’ to create stress and anxiety in our lives. Questions like, ‘Will it hurt, will I fail, will I be rejected, will I lose… will it cost me my life,’ penetrate my thoughts from the shadows.

 

Just as when I was little, it was my view of the dark that caused all my fears. But when I filled my childlike vision with what I knew of my Dad, my fears would fade… and when I heard his voice, I was able to rest.

 

It is the same with God. Jesus says several times to us, ” I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” (John 12:46 NLT) His Word is like “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”(Psalm 119:105) Jesus went on to say, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” (Mark 4:21-23) In Christ, God has placed a light that glows like a beacon of hope, guiding this sinner home. When he speaks through scripture, confidence builds, supplying the same rest my Father did in my youth.

But, just as in my youth, fear crept back in through other voices, ones that suggest their own truth, and gnaw away at the faith our Father’s Word has established. It is for this reason Jesus added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given —and you will receive even more (faith). To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those not listening (in unbelief), even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4:24-25 NLT)

 

Maybe our problem is we have taken a casual view of God. Do we see Him as distant, or the ‘big guy’ upstairs as if he were Homer on the Simpsons..? What if we saw Him as He really is… like Isaiah did?

“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings, they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.” Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:1-5 NIV) Amid his anguish, God sends a light from the altar before His throne to meet Isaiah’s greatest need.

Jesus is the light of the world that exposes all our fears for what they are… a poor view of who He is and what God has promised.

 

After speaking to his disciples about faith, they all left for the other side of the lake. A fierce storm arose and battered the boat. “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”” (Mark 4:38-41 NIV)

 

No matter the storm we face, amid our anguish, God has sent a light from before His throne to meet our greatest need… rest from our fears. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, trusting Him to light our way, we will be okay; He will provide for our every need… till the storm passes by.

Choose wisely…

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

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Think About This: “No matter what I feel, I hold the assurance that God never leaves me.” ― Craig Groeschel

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 3-7| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. –Psalm 103:11-12

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.