Bushfires are growing in intensity and geography. More places are seeing more fires now than ever before-- just now on Evia, the Greek Island and Turkey, Western North America, Sardinia and Finland. Armies and helicopters are flown from one country to another to ease the burdens caused by these fear-bringing flames.
raged beyond any previous scope on a global scale since 1920, and before that, perhaps the Bubonic Plague. Scientists and parliamentarians are working diligently to ease our burdens and overcome our fears, but every statistic and every vaccine, and every news conference reminds us that we are powerless over it. We are not in control.
Other fears are raging around us as well. Fear of failure and fear of the dark, fears abound and there are more telephone calls made to Lifeline and Beyond Blue than ever before. The conspiracy hunters are finding welcoming audiences at the end of an "expert" making a speech about what THEY are not telling us. No wonder so many are anti-vaxxers. No wonder so many don't know which way to turn. Fear is gripping our world like I've never seen before.
There are many others, however, who have seen such fear-bringing moments. But listen to these clear words from Henry David Thoreau
“Nothing is so much to be feared as fear,” in his journal entry for September 7, 1851, in passing, as part of his comment on his contemporaries' criticisms of Harriet Martineau's arguments for atheism in her just-published Letters on the Laws of Man's Nature and Development.
Much more popular to cite is the inaugural speech of FDR, the president of the US during World War Two. Roosevelt hit several different topics in his speech and also provided Americans with one of his greatest quotes "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." which in effect allowed the American people to push forward through their doubts about the future of the country. Here's the actual quotation:
"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
I get it. There are days when problems seem to be front-and-center. There are nights when sounds and darkness surround me. King David felt similar feelings and it's not wrong to feel that way. Psalm 34 was written in a time of personal distress. Even so, David wrote, "I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." That tells me David had fears and when he prayed, and seriously surrendered to the Lord of life, that God delivered him from those fears, one by one.
Yes, you say, that's well and good for that fellow 3,000 years ago, but climate change is making the world hotter so that it will be 1.5 degrees warmer than a few years ago. (2.7 if you think in Fahrenheit)
David said, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;" (Psalm 46.2) The Bible writers seemed to anticipate troubles and consequences more than the rest of us, but even so, they had confidence in the Lord which let them relax, believe and have superior confidence. I guess that's what faith is and what faith accomplishes.
Yes, there is death and there are problems associated with the global pandemic. Everyone of significance has been telling us that for 18 months. Even more so since the Delta variant arrived.
Even so, the Bible makes it clear, as John said, "Perfect love casts out all fear." He certainly knew conditions that were harsh. He was exiled to an island far from supply, and far from ease. He well knew what his friends and colleagues had suffered at the hands of hostility. His summary is clear. If we know the Lord, if we trust in his goodness and love, we will have assurance beyond the fears that are real.
No ace up his sleeve, as if it were a gamble or a cheating mechanism. It's faith from inside the heart towards the one who well-understood problems and tsuris. He was wounded for our transgressions; he was pierced for our iniquity. The chastisement for our peace was on him and with his stripes, we are healed.
Fear... it's real. True. Conditions are dangerous. True. God is sovereign and I will trust him. Ca-ching!
1 comment:
I remember the blob ... all this red goo oozing through the slots in the picture theatre, onto the screaming teens below ... some people make a lot of money thinking up ideas to scare people, but it's good that Jesus has a good idea to lift fear from us ... He is with us & has rescued us from death (anne b)
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