We Haven’t Been Given a Spirit of Fear

The other day I felt myself becoming anxious. I guess it was brought about by the constant barrage of news: the latest state of the pandemic; conflicts between the vaccine vs. no-vaccine, mask or don’t-mask camps in our society; reports of shenanigans going on in the federal government that mainstream media choose to ignore; global turmoil and the ever-present threat of terrorism; escalating violence; unsettled and sometimes severe weather; the ongoing immigration crisis, and rapidly rising prices in the grocery stores. Is that enough to feel somewhat fearful?

Imagine being a little kid with a mean parent constantly telling you, “The bogey man’s going to get you! There’s a monster under your bed!” At first you might shrug off the warnings, but after hearing them over and over, it would be hard not to believe something foul is afoot.

For more than a year-and-a-half, we’ve been subjected to the equivalent of Chicken Little’s “the sky is falling!” shrieks in the old nursery tale. It seems every day we’re hearing about terrible new developments. It gives a different slant to the saying, “No news is good news.” Because good news seems in extremely short supply these days.

 

Whether browsing social media or just walking through a retail store, we can sense the anxiety, the fear that seems to pervade everyday life. It didn’t used to be this way. I remember good old days when relative calm ruled, when worried looks were the exception rather than the rule. So, what’s the solution? How do we “immunize” ourselves from anxiety attacks?

 

What’s needed, I believe, is a return to the basics, recapturing the fundamental values that have sustained many of us through the years. For those of us who are people of faith, it means remembering our confidence is not in the government and elected officials. It’s not in the ominous words of network and cable news anchors and commentators who claim to possess the truth. It’s returning to a commitment to ”Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

 

One recent morning after a restless night of sleep, I found my mind racing through some of the concerns listed above. Being a “fixer” by nature, I kept wondering what could be done, how these pressing problems could be solved and dispelled. But I knew I had no answers, and there’s little evidence that our “leaders” at the national level have any either. So who does have the answers?

 

That’s when I remembered a very important admonition about fear and anxiety: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). What does this mean? A theologian could write an entire book dissecting and analyzing this single verse, but here are a few of my own conclusions.

 

For one thing, it tells us not to fear. But I think most of us would agree that’s easier said than done. Then why does it say we don’t have “a spirit of fear”? Because God has given us to power to overcome the fears bombarding us from the world around us. We can concentrate on His love for us, and His promises that He’s interested in giving us His very best. Our “sound minds” should concentrate on truths revealed in the Scriptures.

 

In one of the major prophetic books we read the assurance, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11). We find a similar promise from the writings of another prophet: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

 

I’m reminded of the account in Matthew 14:25-32, when Jesus’ disciples were in a boat at sea on a stormy night. In the wee hours, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward them. After Jesus told them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid,” Peter asked, “command me to come to You on the water.” When Jesus said, “Come,” the impetuous disciple stepped out of the boat. 

 

However, when he looked around and encountered the strength of the wind, Peter took his eyes off Christ. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord save me!” Reaching out His hand and grabbing hold of Peter’s hand, Jesus uttered words we all should take to heart: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 

There are times we feel as if we’re at sea, too, buffeted relentlessly by waves and winds way beyond our control. Desperate and dismayed, we cry out, “Lord, save me!” With His power and a love that exceeds anything we can comprehend, He promises to reach out and, with a knowing look, to ask, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?”