"For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries." - Psalm 112:6-8 {ESV}
People learn to be afraid.We are not born with a plethora of fears - we learn them as we grow.Scientists tell us that humans are born with only two innate fears: fear of loud noises and fear of falling.Any and all other fears come to us by way of some form of conditioning.It is noteworthy that as a child grows in her awareness she also grows in her ability to experience fear.It was not until my daughter, Alicia, was about eight years old that she began wanting to sleep with some form of light streaming into her room.When I questioned her reason she informed me that a commercial had frightened her and that the hallway light made her feel safe.While the majority of those who are grown don't fear the dark when they lay down to sleep, we are still prone to carry around with us other things that cause us to feel anxious.You have yours, I have mine.
Some people fear dying.Still others fear living another day.Some people are afraid of becoming poor; their whole lives are spent in a frenzy trying to accumulate just enough to put them at inward ease.I have spent time with people who are afraid of losing the vigor and beauty of their youth.I have found myself fearing for my children's future in a world that may one day look nothing like it does to me now.Who will take care of them if I cannot?The thought of failure immobilizes many so that they never attempt anything great.Some with secret sins fear being discovered.There is the fear of commitment among many men who remain single until they are fifty.I used to fear losing my hair - now I fear losing my mind!
There are intimidating things all around us and when we focus upon them we become their servant.That is why we are exhorted many times in the Bible to place our confidence in God himself.When we master this ability, though we still experience the feelings of fear, they cannot own the title to our hearts.
Faith moves mountains, fear magnifies them.
I used to think I lived with a level of faith that rarely allowed for the experience of fear.Looking back I often wonder whether it was true faith or simply the fact that God was allowing me to walk uncontested so that I would learn what it is to experience His presence in those early days.For the last few years there has rarely been a week when there was not some looming issue in my life which taunted me.People, circumstances, spiritual adversaries, physical weakness...they have all been sent to instruct me at various times.On good days I know just how to relegate them to their appropriate places.On lesser days, when I forget the greatness of my God, these difficulties appear larger than life itself.Christians must learn the diligence of cultivating confidence in the promises and presence of God.Believe me, if your faith is genuine then it will most definitely be tested.In order for the muscle of faith to grow, it must be flexed.In order for it to flex, it must be resisted.Every occasion to tremble is actually an opportunity for triumph, and the followers of Christ have the unique empowerment to overcome with a fixated faith in the Person of Christ.
Trust hurdles over obstacles, trepidation constructs them.
My challenges are great during this season of my life.Truth be known, I crave a break from it all.Yet God has called us to be soldiers and we grunts don't give the Captain orders.He knows the terrain;He establishes the objectives.He situates each soldier (including you) and equips them accordingly.His strategy will not be subverted, His destination cannot be undershot.His presence is the light in the doorway when we lay down to sleep, so we need not fear what lurks in the shadows.His care for you is impossible to describe - let us be still, know that He is God, and wait for His greatness.
I stated above that we learn to fear by some form of conditioning.We also learn faith by that same process.Let us be vigilant to discern what is conditioning us this very day for the experience of salvation's joy is hinged to it.
Thank you for this blog. The fears I learned as a child have brought me closer to the Lord as I have matured in my walk with Christ. How wonderful and comforting it is to know I have a loving Father who cradles me in his loving arms when these fears from the past sneak back into my life. As you quoted above, be still and know that he is God.
