I Know I Shouldn’t Be Afraid
“I know I shouldn’t be afraid,” surfaces well into the conversation accompanied by a somber expression and some obvious hesitancy. Christians have summoned a moment of honest transparency to relate this most uncomfortable feeling.
The line has been widespread in its coverage: a men’s prayer breakfast, a church leader’s wife during a dinner and conversations with more than one friend. We live in fearful times and they were feeling it.
I don’t know about you, but I have been astounded at the waves of fear generated by the virus pandemic news. These waves keep pounding the shores of our hearts, often in storm sized sets. The society, yes; however, Christ’s people are also struggling in the force of the waves. Now, add in the current political upheaval. The combination multiplies fear of the present and fear for the future!
“I know I shouldn’t be afraid,” carries with it a sense of shame. Oh, they know the verses:
“God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear …” “Perfect love casts out fear.” The Bible fact that there are 365 “don’t be afraid” statements in the word – enough for one each day (except leap year, I suppose). These admonitions somehow can’t manage to gain traction; shame is digging in, though.
Friends, acquaintances, and the social media neighborhood wave those verse-flags whenever the subject of fear arises. So, my friends grow quiet. Shame tends to cover up.
Tuck this verse away in your heart for a moment, we will come back to it: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3)
Fear itself is an emotional stop sign, or warning light. It was installed in our souls by our Heavenly Father, first because he makes it clear throughout the scriptures that we are to “fear God.” Secondly, it keeps us from falling off cliffs and leads to the avoidance of clear and present danger. If you want a Bible hook to hang it on – check the second chapter of Matthew: The Lord told Joseph to move back to Israel. Joseph chose Nazareth instead of Bethlehem, afraid of Herod’s son. God allowed that choice, no issue there.
We feel fear, quite like we feel hunger; gradually or all the sudden, we know it. When we feel hunger, it does little good to say, “I shouldn’t be hungry.” The question at hand is, “What will I do with my feeling?” The same question ought to be applied when one feels fear.
One important step is to detect the source of this fear. As I mentioned previously, there is reasonable fear that our Maker installed. Irrational fears exist – we term these phobias. Many fears arise from past experiences and their memories; some are traumatic, hence the phenomenon of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Our thought life is integral to sense of apprehension. This is significant to consider: the longer we live life, the larger our “file” of bad experiences and memories becomes. Add to this our ever-present news media – “If it bleeds, it leads.” By means of news and entertainment, we can ingest a vast amount of anxiety inducing thoughts.
“I know I shouldn’t be afraid.” The reality is, we feel fear, and we can do some things immediately, when the anxiety arises.
David puts us on the right track, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” I learned that in a conversation with a fellow pastor years ago. A light bulb illuminated for me when John brought it to my attention. Wow! What a concept! Not, “When I get my act together, I will trust in you.” Rather, “when I am afraid.” The Holy Spirit inspired that! Let’s start here… whenever fear rears its head, “Lord, I trust you!”
Next, realize that courage does not mean “I’m not afraid.” Far from it! Those who have no fear do not need courage (they also do some rather foolish things at times). In the words of that famous theologian, John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Courage, my friend, is doing the right things in the face of fear. Courage pleases our Lord. God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous,” three times in four verses because he was not feeling particularly strong or courageous. (Joshua 1)
Finally, live with an awareness of the presence of God. There are two parts:
1. The Lord’s stock answer to those he commissioned, “I will be with you.” He promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) Lock in on this. Pour it continually over your mind and heart. “I know I shouldn’t … check that … I am afraid, but Jesus said, ‘I will be with you;’ so I will follow and obey him!”
2. The Holy Spirit lives inside of those who belong to Christ. One of his key tasks is to change our character to become like our Lord. Carefully weigh Romans 8:12-14. We are to invite the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body … you can be certain FEAR that masters us and blocks or hinders us as we try to follow Jesus is included. Talk to God, the Spirit, about dealing powerfully to remove that obstacle. (In my experience, he often does this gradually. So, I pray about it regularly).
Courage, my brother. Courage, my sister. The Lord is with us. The Spirit is willing. Consider sharing this concept – there are a lot of fearful believers out there. Jesus put it this way, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 CSB)