As a young boy, one of my fears was being separated from my family.
That usually manifested in me getting homesick and trying to find a way to get home in the middle of the night.
One time, while spending the night with a friend in elementary school, I called my parents in the wee hours of the morning to see what they were doing. The call went something like this:
- Me: “Hey, mom, it’s Drew. What are y’all doing?”
- Mom: “Drew, we’re sleeping.”
- Me: “I’m homesick and want to come home.”
- Mom: “Drew, you’re going to be ok. Just go back and lay down, and you’ll fall asleep soon.”
- Me: “I can’t fall asleep. I want to come home.”
- Mom: “Drew, you can’t come home. Go back to bed, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
- Me: “Ok. I’ll try to go lay down.”
As I’ve grown older, I can’t even count or remember all the things that have caused fear in my life. Some fears have come on strong, then they subside and are replaced by another. Other worries are weak and pass without further ado.
The reality is fears are part of the human condition, but they do not have to be the dominant emotion we endure as Christians.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- The Proverbs teach us that to fear is to lay a snare for ourselves. Fear, in other words, is like walking into our own trap.
- “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” Prov. 29:25
- We learn from the Psalmist that the presence of God dispels fear. In other words, like Peter took that first step on the water in faith toward Christ, so too should we take that first step in faith toward our Lord.
- “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
- Through the apostle Paul, God teaches us that the way through fear is prayer and thanksgiving. In other words, when we bring requests to God with a heart of gratitude for all He has done, we’re on our way to moving from fear to faith.
- “Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7
Fear like a firecracker. It’s noisy and intense for about one to five seconds, and then it’s gone. I’m called to a life of faith that may not be free of fear. However, it’s a journey to wrestle with the fear(s) I face with prayer (trust/faith) and thanksgiving (heart of gratitude).
May God help us to remain people of faith who appropriate their fear(s) through prayer and thanksgiving. Amen!
— November 3, 2022