Friday, August 12, 2011

Jesus Calms Fears

And Jesus answered, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. -- Matthew 8:26

We are a fearful people. We fear for the safety and health of our loved ones. We fear that our financial successes -- no matter what level -- will be wiped out by unseen forces or government irresponsibility. We fear that people won’t like us. And on and on.

Sometimes we speak of the fear. Mostly we stay silent. We carry our fears deep in our hearts, especially if we are Christians. We aren’t supposed to be fearful. We know that. We’re supposed to trust God in all things. And we do. Sort of. It’s just that we know what can happen and we fear that if something truly bad comes along we won’t be able to handle it.

Except we don’t have to handle it. At least not alone. God is with us every step of the way. Being fearful, worrying about what we cannot control, doesn’t change anything. It won’t make anyone safer or healthier. Worry doesn’t make us financially secure or popular or successful. Worry holds us back, keeping us from the glorious blessings of peace that come from truly trusting God.

What happens when the bad comes? We hold on to our Savior with all we’ve got. We believe His words. He will provide. He will see us through the storm. He will rebuke the wind and crashing waves, just as He did on that night so long ago.

Then comes the next fear. God promises to provide what we need but what about what we want? We like our fancy house and our prestigious job. We enjoy vacations and new cars and eating out whenever we like. God didn’t promise to provide all those extras. And there comes the root of so much fear. What we need and what we want aren’t the same thing.

Don’t get me wrong. God wants to bless us abundantly in all things. He wants us to have financial success -- so we can give back and do for others. Gulp. That’s right. God wants us to give as abundantly as we receive. We really don’t want to do that.

Oh, we give. Some people tithe their 10 percent. And not a penny more. I once witnessed a fairly wealthy woman deduct the cost of an item she’d purchased for a needy family from her tithe to the church. She easily could have afforded the extra expense. At least her bank account could have afforded it. Her heart couldn’t stand giving more than the "required" amount. How sad.

Maybe we’re so afraid because we expend so much energy holding on to things that don’t belong to us anyway. Including people. Children, who are so precious and loved, come from God. They are gifts that we cherish above all else. And sometimes they go home far too soon. Home. To God. Like all believers. Talk to a parent who has lost a child and they’ll tell you quick that it is that knowledge, that certainty, that carries them forward when they’d rather curl up and die.

Fear doesn’t have to rule our lives. We can choose to fight it with scripture and prayer. We can choose to believe even when fear rises up and threatens our peace in the middle of the storm. We can hold on to the promises of Jesus, who loved us enough to give everything and suffer beyond comprehension, so that we could know His hope and His peace. We have no reason to be afraid. He’s already won the war and He’ll take care of us until God calls us home.