Faith in Your Fear

By Jon Walker

“But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Across the breadth of the Bible, God consistently sends the message, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

The Bible reveals that God knows we tend toward fear, particularly as we respond to uncertainty and change. Yet the Bible also reveals that God is the only thing in this world – or out of it – that is certain and unchanging.

Is it possible we have more faith in our fear than we do in God?

No matter how complex life becomes, it still comes down to the basic choice. Will we place our confidence in the All-Powerful, Supreme Being and Sole Authority of the Universe or will we place greater confidence in our fears?

Although the choice is black-or-white basic, God knows it’s not simple. It involves a challenging stretch, and that’s why God continually reminds us, “Fear not, for I am with you.”

God is clear that our abilities, our resources – even a belief in the myth of luck – will not be what strengthen us for the journey. (Philippians 4:13) We fear we can’t do the things God calls us to do, and we fear that God will not protect us or provide for us – and so we choose to fear, embracing the unholy lie that our circumstances are bigger than the One True God.

And we place our faith in God on the altar of our own perceptions, as opposed to placing our perceptions on the altar of unflinching faith.

If you’re like me, you often fear what’s behind the curtain of God’s call, and God – frustratingly – won’t let me peek behind the curtain:

· Our fear shouts, “Pay no attention to the God behind the curtain; he’s just another wizard from Oz, using smoke and mirrors to give you the illusion of power and grace.”

· Our God whispers, in that still small voice, that he wants us to develop confidence in him and not in what we see or feel. He keeps the curtain drawn so we will learn to live by faith and not by sight, so we will become certain of what we hope for and sure of God, even when we cannot see how he’s at work in our current circumstances. (Hebrews 11:1)

So what?

· Ask God to replace your fear with faith

Eliminating your fear involves more than working up your courage; this is a spiritual battle that requires you to develop faith. But first you need to make a choice – Will you fear, or will you “faith?”

· Faith means you believe the truth  

Your behavior and decisions are most often rooted in what you believe. When you experience fear, ask yourself, “What does this fear say about what I believe in this circumstance?” What fears are you experiencing today? What do they say about the beliefs embedded in your being? Ask God to root them out.

· Get caught in an act of faith  

One day a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped behind Jesus and touched his robe, thinking he could heal her. “Jesus turned – caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well.” (Matthew 9:22) God is for you, and he encourages you to be caught doing acts of faith. When you act in faith, you proclaim your belief in God that he exists and that he cares about you.