So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. Isa 41:10 (NIV)
Storm Fear – Fear Part 4
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3
An expert on fear, Stephen King says, “If a fear cannot be articulated, it can’t be conquered.”
When we are so busy fighting fear or running from it, we cannot face it with a calm and steadfast focus to walk through it. Too often, we swat at fear and throw empty declarations at it, instead of naming and recognising it, and even respecting it to the point of the power that it has over our lives if we do not deal with it properly. We cannot conquer something that we do not have the humility and grace to face fully. Often, our fears reveal our deepest issues around trust and faith and hope. When we recognise them, we can speak to the source of these issues.
Whenever Jesus cast out demons and darkness within a person, he named it. He named the darkness and called it for what it was. He looked it in the face and understood it…
Richard Rohr says, “Much of the work of spiritual growth has to do with saying… to those in darkness, “Show yourself!” (Isaiah 49:9).”
Take a few minutes to articulate your fears.
And then speak these words over them:
“Fear not I am with you.”
“Peace, be still.”
Faith and trust take a hold of these words and sink them deep down into the core of our being, making them come alive and somewhat tangible in a “hope is an anchor for our souls” kind-of-way.
In Mark 4, Jesus asked his disciples to cross to the other side, knowing full well that during the journey they would experience a storm that would bring them face to face with their fears. Fear of death, fear of pain, fear of failure… and who knows what else. He took them on a journey to cross through their fear. And it’s not a one-off journey, but one we are always embarking on. The disciples woke up Jesus and asked him to take control of the situation, and he did. He spoke to the storm, and his words of peace dispelled the writhing waters around them. The wind and waves obeyed him, and all became calm in an instant.
Here’s the thing.
Have you ever tried to do that? I have. And it has never worked. Ha! I’ve been in crazy fearful situations, I’ve been in danger, I’ve been sick, I’ve been heartbroken, and I have pleaded and begged with Jesus to WAKE UP and speak to the winds and the waves crashing into my life, “Peace be still!”
But what I’ve found in most of those seasons and situations, Christ hasn’t looked at my circumstances and commanded that they obey his peace. He’s looked at me and has asked me to do so. “Fear not, I am with you.”
It’s the wind and waves within that more often than not, Jesus speaks to. It’s our own hearts and minds that he ushers his peace into, rather than that what is happening around about us. Faith and trust happen when we listen to God’s words of peace and believe them, heed them, and allow them to work their way into our innermost beings and settle the fray within.
After he had calmed the storm, Jesus didn’t rebuke his disciples; he didn’t deny that something terrifying had happened, he didn’t even explain the fear away, he simply asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you have such little faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Faith and trust lead us to presence, and into his presence. The presence of body, soul and spirit to cross through our fears guarded by the peace of God that is stronger, higher and heavier than the fear that threatens it. Don’t judge the disciples too harshly for freaking out in the storm, chances are we would do the same. And Christ says the same thing today that he said back then, “Peace be still. Why are you afraid? Just have faith.”
Go to Part 5 – Terrified Grace
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