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F.E.A.R. |
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by Tom Gilbert© 2003
Acronyms can be wonderful tools. They help us remember the names
of organizations. They can remind us of things we ordinarily forget.
They can drill into our conscious mind helpful statements to address
our frequent irritability and distress.
Fear is a good instinct – at times. When we are in clear
and present danger fear brings awareness of the hazard and
stimulates adrenaline. However, fear is more often an evil
and corroding thread, a soul-sickness that blinds us to the constant
comfort and love of God.
Often my fear makes me want to run away. F.E.A.R. becomes
forget everything and run. At other times it is false
evidence appearing real. So many fears are imaginary.
The answer is: face everything and recover
Contrary to popular opinion, the antidote to fear is
not courage. It is faith. Faith tells me that there is someone and something that
stands by and with me. Yes, I need courage. I need it to face the fear. Faith encourages.
The human condition we all share demands self preservation. It is one of our highest
instincts. Despite self destructive streaks we ultimately all want to live. Where we tend
to get bent out of shape is in the proper balance of instinct. Somehow we must reconcile
our wants and needs. We can’t demand more than our fair share and
we must learn to sacrifice for others.
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Know Fear
The great definition of fear for me is the concern
that I won’t get what I want or lose something I already have.
There it is: self centered justification and absence of compassion.
Our country, our world, is so very fearful. This cannot be healthy.
Like cornered badgers we hiss and strike out when our backs are to the wall. Or worse, we act
like sharks, in perpetual motion, devouring those in our path so we can maintain that movement.
Rare, indeed, are those who choose the third way – a willingness to passively resist evil,
even to the point of death. This has been the path of saintly martyrs. It was the
way to Calvary: “Like a lamb to the slaughter.”
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Doormat Mentality
Critics will shout this submissiveness is wrong. They
mistake the passive resistance as weakness, but it is in our weakness
that God’s strength shines.
We need not be ashamed when we are afraid. We will
have fear, but we need to learn to turn to God and
trust in his loving power whenever fear threatens to overwhelm us.
It’s quite amazing how frequently fear is addressed in the Bible.
Over and over again we are told to not be afraid by God speaking through the prophets,
angels and his messengers. (See ;
;
;
;
;
)
We are told to simply believe and trust in God. Even when
death is all around us and we fear for our lives ().
The fear that God wants to free us from is the kind of fear that freezes
us,
which shuts us down. God’s Spirit should flow freely and wonderfully through us.
Jesus was pretty clear about his desire that we be one with him and
the Father. He knows that fear can hold us back. Yes, we will be afraid
when confronted with our weakness and sin, because if we are honest
we recognize our guilt. However, God is the king of mercy! He wants
transformation and for this we must fearlessly live a changed life.
Face everything with confidence and love. Face everything and recover
because your faith will make you well.
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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JOHN 14:27 |
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"Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and
do not be afraid. " |
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(NIV) |
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