What's Coming Might Be Fear. And That Might Be Good.

 "The presence of doubt and fear does not prove the absence of trust." -- Alexander Maclaren

"Is that biblical?" I wondered. For years I had heard, "There are 365 'Fear nots' in the Bible -- one for every day of the year." I had heard things like, "Fear is a liar," and "All throughout Scripture we are commanded, 'Do not be afraid.'" To break a command is a sin, right? Fear must be bad, and it must be bad because it means I don't trust the One who can keep me from it. Right? I'm not sure it's that simple.

We have a membership to a roadside assistance agency. Do I fear a breakdown each time I leave the house? Certainly not. Do I fear being stranded as I'm trying to get to someplace important or I have loved ones with me? Somewhat. Do I fear sitting in a disabled vehicle for hours through the night? Now we might be moving the needle a little closer to "Fear." But it's a type of fear or serious concern that causes me to take action. I guess you could call it a "healthy fear." It causes me to make sure our membership is paid. It doesn't mean I panic each time I get behind the wheel, or obsess over the possibilities throughout my day or even, throughout my drive. It simply demands I take precautions. But, I didn't always think that way. I used to travel anywhere in my vehicle. At any hour. In any season or weather. It never crossed my mind I was doing something reckless or dangerous. If my older vehicle had broken down in some of the areas I traveled then, I could have been in some real trouble. And, sometimes, I had my young children with me. Experience and fear has caused me to rethink the way I do things.

I think, as Christians, we need to stop beating one another and ourselves up over our fear. This world is rough, God knows that. Fear of it can prompt us to do good things, safe things, the right things -- like trust! Fear, as a way of life can be damaging and sinful -- just like chasing wealth, or busyness, or women, or anything other than God. We are not to be slaves of fear, gripped by fear. But fear, in and of itself, is not some scarlet letter to mark us untrusting or faithless. Just the opposite may be true. Because of my fear, the knowledge that my abilities are finite and I am vulnerable, I trust more. I have to put my faith in Someone bigger, better equipped and willing to help. Have you ever done that thing where you put the tape over that little light on the dash? You may have just ignored the thing that's telling you to get your vehicle to the one who can fix it. Denying the fear that creeps up when something threatens us is not some "godly response to sin." Pretending fear doesn't exist merely lends credence to the ability to talk yourself into confidence or white-knuckle your way through a situation. Denying fear is a form of self-sufficiency, self-idolatry. "I can make this go away." Instead, you could be suppressing the very thing God wants to use to turn you to Him. We all fear. We should not live in fear -- for Jesus is the answer -- but we should never judge its presence as mistrust or faithlessness. Our reaction to fear, what we do or do not allow God to do with fear determines the presence of trust. 

These days, I have FOMO, fear of missing out. I fear missing all God has planned for my life. I do! I want it all! Every bit of goodness and mercy and sanctification and prosperity and testimony and work He desires me to have! My FOMO causes me to search and know His Word, listening for the voice of His Spirit that I might partake of all He has to offer. I draw closer to Him because fear has warned me of danger, the danger of trying to navigate this crazy world on my own. Fear has led me right to the Shepherd, the One in whom I can trust.