According to my Houghton Mifflin Canadian dictionary, fear is defined as “A feeling of alarm or disquiet caused by the expectation of danger, pain, disaster, or the like; terror, dread, apprehension.
How would you answer this question: “What am I afraid of?” Are you afraid of heights? Are you afraid of the dark or of what goes “bang” in the night? Are you afraid of crowds or loneliness? Are you afraid of going broke? Afraid of being “found out” that you’re ensnared in a personal addiction? Or, are you afraid of the “biggest” biggie – death and dying?
Fear is the best weapon Satan has against us, because fear motivates us. Fear either paralyzes us from doing what we should do, or motivates us to do something we shouldn’t. When afraid: our thoughts are irrational. Our courage and conviction evaporates into thin air. Peace of mind disappears, and God’s call on our lives is hampered and disabled. We are crippled in serving God and one another as those led to know Jesus as Savior.
Martin Luther wrote: “Therefore you must continually keep God’s Word in your heart, on your lips, and in your ears. For where the heart stands idle and the Word is not heard, the devil breaks in and does his damage before we realize it.”
So, “Be still and know that I am God. (Ps 46:10)” When fear paralyzes you from doing what you should do, or when fear motivates you to do something you shouldn’t – you are brought to be still, knowing God is God.
And why? “God is our refuge and strength. (Ps 46:1)” Imagine an impenetrable fortress. God is your unfailing source of strength, enabling you to overcome the dangers that assail you, either from the world about you, or upon your soul.
When I was just a little gaffer, I went with my mom to visit my aunt Eva. Auntie Eva and Uncle Bob had these huge turkeys. And, while my aunt and mom visited inside, I was outside roaming about the farm yard. These turkeys took notice of me, and as a menacing group they slowly approached me. As I stepped away, they quickly made up the difference. And as I retreated even faster, the turkeys enmasse broke into a gallop. At least – that’s what I still picture with my overactive imagination. Turkeys can be pretty foul (pun intended).
It was at that moment that my mom and aunt came to my rescue. They called out to me: stand your ground, make some noise, wave your arms in the air, and throw a few stones. And, sure enough, as soon as I did that – the turkeys scattered and fled.
You see, Satan is a big turkey. He takes advantage of our weak thinking and our warped imaginations. And, if he can get us scared to death, we’re not only running away in fear, but tempted to blame God for all the trouble we presume to be facing. Herein, Satan’s lie. But, when you resist the devil with God’s Word – he flees.
And, to that biggest “biggie” about being scared to death – Jesus faced it for us. Through the holy writer to the Hebrews, we hear: “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)”
Tremble not. Jesus shared in your humanity to destroy Satan and the fear of death. You are NOT enslaved by any wrongdoing, because you’re forgiven in His love, and baptized into His victory from the grave. And, by the Spirit’s indwelling presence, you rise to vast heights of faith and trust to follow Jesus, as your Savior – no matter what. Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus. •
— By Pastor Neil Stern
Grace Lutheran Church, Edmonton AB