September/October 2010
Storms of Fear
A young man toes the line and goes through his pre-shot routine. The foul line in basketball is 15' from the basket which stands 10' off the floor. The shot is called a free throw, therefore, no one can guard the shot and the young man drains shot after shot. It is as though the ball is on a string. Now place the young man in the heat of the game and things change. The height of the goal is the same as is the distance - there is nothing different about the physics of the shot. However, if we put a few thousand people in the stands, a close score, yelling, screaming, people praying both for him to fail and to succeed, then the ball may not be on that same string. Suddenly the young man is more worried about missing the shot than the confidence required of making it. Fear is now his companion. It is a paralyzing emotion causing simple tasks you’ve accomplished regularly to become difficult. Most definitions of fear refer to it as an emotion or sense of impending danger, evil or terror whether real or imagined. The Greek word most often translated as fear is Phobos, yes, as in Phobia. God’s Word implores that we rely on God's love instead of fear.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18) NIV
Because of the love of Christ, we can have confidence rather than fear. His confidence becomes our confidence. Consider more scripture in our battle against fear:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) NIV
Fear does not come from God. The bible instructs us to fear Him, but that is best interpreted as reverence for His holiness in contrast to our unholiness. Don't confuse that fear or respect for what Paul writes in this verse concerning timidity. He wrote Timothy, who was leading a very difficult church in Ephesus, encouraging him to know that God had given him a different kind of spirit. By his own experience, Paul knew that Timothy would have to lean on God's power not his own, on God's love not that of his fellow man, and God's discernment in spite of what was going on around him. Fear takes our eyes off the goal. It happened to Peter as the great faith that got him out of the boat to go to Jesus on the water turned instead to fear. Peter started to sink amid the wind and waves. He took his eyes off Jesus. That is fear's intent and why it is a tool of Satan. The enemy attacks us each where we have the greatest fear, God tests us there by inviting us out on the waves. Why? Because when we overcome fear through faith in Him, we learn a valuable lesson of growing more dependent on Him. We are liberated to live a life fear free!
Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. (1 Peter 3:14-15a) NIV
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) NIV
Fear does not come from God. The bible instructs us to fear Him, but that is best interpreted as reverence for His holiness in contrast to our unholiness. Don't confuse that fear or respect for what Paul writes in this verse concerning timidity. He wrote Timothy, who was leading a very difficult church in Ephesus, encouraging him to know that God had given him a different kind of spirit. By his own experience, Paul knew that Timothy would have to lean on God's power not his own, on God's love not that of his fellow man, and God's discernment in spite of what was going on around him. Fear takes our eyes off the goal. It happened to Peter as the great faith that got him out of the boat to go to Jesus on the water turned instead to fear. Peter started to sink amid the wind and waves. He took his eyes off Jesus. That is fear's intent and why it is a tool of Satan. The enemy attacks us each where we have the greatest fear, God tests us there by inviting us out on the waves. Why? Because when we overcome fear through faith in Him, we learn a valuable lesson of growing more dependent on Him. We are liberated to live a life fear free!
Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. (1 Peter 3:14-15a) NIV
This verse was written by the man just mention who was once sinking in the waves. Peter knew real fear and here he urges us not to give in to fear, not to go through life frightened of what may happen. He doesn't offer us some rose colored message either, for he knew that suffering is a part of the Christian walk. The difference is Christ and his presence in our hearts during those trials. Peter instructs us to set apart Christ in our hearts, give him the single seat on the throne of our hearts, and not allow fear to take our God-given talents rendering them paralyzed. The more storms you endure with Christ the more confident, persistent and experienced you will be. This gives us the opportunity to share and walk with someone else in the midst of their storm. You can point others toward the peace of Christ as they face the storm of fear.