No Fear…just FAITH always
No Fear… Just FAITH Always
“And He said to them, [Why are you so fearful?] Where is your faith (your trust, your confidence in Me—in My veracity and My integrity)? And they were seized with alarm and profound and reverent dread, and they marveled, saying to one another, Who then is this, that He commands even wind and sea, and they obey Him?”
Luke 8:25 (AMP)
Fear is such an awful thing. The overwhelming combination of emotions complete with dread, anxiety and terror can chew you up and spit you out all in a millisecond and leave you just a ragged mess. I know because I have been there. The knock on the door that makes you jump; the unexpected call from the doctor’s saying that they need to see you in the office urgently or that terrified moment when you hear something so gut-wrenching that you don’t know whether to run or to sink. Fear just has that way of knocking you down while taking away your sense of peace all at the same time.
But the good news is as Christians it doesn’t have to. We don’t have to lose our peace, or hope or anything else that fear steals from us. We can remain still and at peace because our hope and faith is in Jesus, who is greater than any storm, situation, or circumstance in our lives.
I think that is why I love the Bible story of Jesus commanding the seas and the winds to be still so much. In this story, Jesus is sound asleep while the winds and the rain are constantly whipping the boat that He and the disciples are in. Again, all of this horror is going on and Jesus is just sleeping as peaceably as can be. The disciples, on the other hand, are cowering in fear and terrified that they are going to sink. (Luke 8:22-25)
As you read that story, ask yourself which one are you? Are you cowering in fear like the disciples or are you like Jesus, still and calm, in the face of uncertainty? Or, are you like me, who has been a bit of both depending on the situation?
I guess if we are honest with ourselves, we are all a bit of both depending on how things are going in our lives.
But again as Christians, we do not have to be both. We can always be like Jesus and remain at peace at all times and in every situation.
When we live like Jesus, in faith, we are victorious and it doesn’t matter if the winds and rain are wiping up in a frenzy in our lives; we are safe and secure because our anchor is Jesus.
In a simplistic way that is what having faith is all about. It is about trusting that God is there for you a billion percent, therefore, it doesn’t matter what the doctors may say or the unexpected piece of mail brings because your life is in His hands and He has you.
A little while ago, I watched Pastor Joel Osteen teach on faith and one of the things that he said has resonated with me so much that it has become my unofficial mantra. I quote it all the time, verbally and in the spirit. He said, “when fear knocks on your door, let faith answer it.” I just love that so much that I have it posted on my bulletin board at work and I also have included it in my prayer book. That simple saying is an awesome reminder to all Christians that it doesn’t matter what comes our way all we have to do is let our faith in God handle it. Trouble will always knock at our doors, but quiet assurance can answer it. How great is that?!
Precious Father, that You so much for the quiet assurance that comes from having faith in You. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
-Nina Fortson