Wars and rumors of wars, a pandemic sweeping across the world, whispers of economic collapse, carefully made plans disrupted. This is our world today. Why would God allow a tiny microbe to encroach on all of humanity, changing everything in its wake, and taking thousands of people’s lives? What if it touches my family? The cold hand of fear grips my heart.
But wait. That is a familiar feeling. I’ve felt it often—long before the more recent uncertainties. I’ve felt a twist of raw fear when my son climbed a tall tree, or when there was bad news from a government office. Sometimes I’m afraid simply because it’s the first natural human response to anything uncertain. I want to be comfortable and live a life free of pain and grief. I want to live my life happy and carefree, then die without drama in the end. If anything hints at upsetting those carefully controlled plans, fear rears its ugly head. Sometimes fear is irrational and can’t ask neatly expressed questions. Other times the questions come as bold intruders, stalking into my peaceful world. What if someone I love dies? What if life will never be the same again? What if something terrible happens to one of my children?
Let us see what God has to say about those “what-ifs”. Fear and worry take root in our hearts when we focus on the unknown future. But God says, Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature … Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself… –Mat 6:27, 34. Or to quote the ESV version of the same verse, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life span? Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow…”
In other words, we are frail humans. We don’t have the power to fix our world or our problems. We don’t have the power to determine the day of our death or how it will come. We cannot control our lives. Being anxious is not the answer to this dilemma. So, what is the answer?
One part of the answer is taking on God’s eternal perspective. Tribulation is a theme throughout the Bible, which we often miss simply because we have lived the affluent lifestyle of the 21st century. For many believers, tribulation is not a normal part of their Christianity. Then if grief, death, or shattering comes into their lives, they become confused. (Why would God allow this in my life if He says He loves me?) Some lose faith in God altogether. (If God says He is love yet allows these things, how can I trust Him?) I also have asked questions such as: Why is He not answering my prayers? Am I being punished?
This is the agony of a human heart trying to understand God’s ways.
Even nature shows us that our Creator God has the good of all creation in mind when He allows trials. The Lodgepole Pine Tree seeds require a forest fire to break open the hard-outer shell of its pinecone and release the seed. A caterpillar must give up its entire identity and spend weeks in a dark chrysalis before emerging as a butterfly. The nutrient needs of the forest floor are dependent upon trees falling, then rotting into humus. Wheat becomes beneficial only after being ground into flour. Gold becomes far more beautiful and valuable after it has been refined with much heat. The precious face of a newborn baby is seen only after the pain of childbirth. There is no rainbow without rain and dark clouds. Likewise, our soul stays stagnant without pain.
In all of creation this is God’s design.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy –1Pe 4: 12-13.
This verse is God whispering to those of us who have built a hard shell around our heart. Just break, give in to the fire, the damp dark earth, the confining chrysalis, and the pain. It would be foolish to tell the caterpillar to not worry, or to reassure the seed that it will reproduce and grow. We don’t try to convince the Lodgepole Pine that the fire is doing a good thing. It’s simply nature taking its course.
So it is with you and me. When we understand the value of pain, then fear and worry will disappear. We will learn to rejoice through the pain when we believe that it is simply our Loving Father preparing our souls for heaven. Even our darkest trial is not dark to Him, because He sees through the darkness into the eternal glory giving life to our souls. He sees the short span of earthly sorrow and knows it will soon give way to eternal joy. The glories of heaven are His secret; we only need to trust that our deliverance is coming.
Radically different then the lawless slogan of the 1990s, “No Fear”, as Christians we can truly say, “No fear,” because God has put the hope of eternity in our hearts. We can safely let go of everything else. Our Anabaptist forefathers knew this well and lived it, even giving their lives for the truth. We can do the same as we face life with a strength of spirit that values the spiritual over the earthly. We can face the shattering of dreams, a world-wide pandemic, or death by persecutors. These things have no power over our destiny. God’s purpose is eternal and not just for our earthly comfort and happiness. Instead of fearing temporal troubles, we are to fear the things which lethargize our souls—the shallow living which blankets our souls in a false security.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind –2Ti 1:7. Fear is debilitating. It consumes our mind; it steals our focus. The devil knows this. Fear often attacks me at night, leaving me weak and exhausted. Foolish? Yes, because most times my fears are irrational. But it is real, none-the-less. It is a battle that I must fight. Instead of fear, God has given us the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. When woven together, these three cords form a strong rope that will not break under pressure.
Let’s examine these three cords more closely.
Power simply means ‘the ability to do or act with force.’ God has given us the ability to make conscious choices and to do the next right thing. His power, given to us, overrides our human tendencies of fear and control.
Love is a profoundly tender affection. This is the love God has for us even as He allows and purposes trials. He puts this love in our hearts which sweetens all of life and lets everyone know that we have been with Jesus. Fear tightens and debilitates. Love makes us free and open. God needs women who choose love—for love casts out fear. If we understand the love by which God is ordering our lives, there is no room for fear.
A Sound Mind is healthy and in good condition; competent and sensible. The Greek word for this gives us the sense of someone with self-control and self-discipline. God needs women with active, creative minds, who order their lives in a competent and sensible way; women who exchange the internal drama of fear for a clear mind that can reach out and bless others.
Today we can choose to lay aside fear and reach for this threefold cord of power, love, and a sound mind. Love hard—… love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself –Luk 10:27. Use your hands to comfort and bless, sing with your children, and take time to enjoy the beauty of the sunrise and the sunset. Do each small duty with a heart of trust and faithfulness. Whatever happens, let’s be found living in abundant grace, joy, and obedience to God’s Word.
Wars and rumors of war? Disease? Economic collapse? Persecution? Trauma? Perhaps. But the outcome is clear. Jesus said, …In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world –Joh 16:33. Do not be afraid, sisters; He has already overcome!
