Faith or Fear

We live in uncertainty. What does God want, where is he leading us? What will tomorrow bring, in finance, in relationships, in our health?

As we get older, because of life experience, the nuances become more apparent, and life can appear more uncertain. And yet, our humanity seeks stability. For many, a steady paycheck, good benefits and a guaranteed pension are unattainable goals. For millions today, even the roof over their heads can’t be counted on.

And yet in the middle of it, Paul counsels:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [Phillipians 4:4-7, NAS, via Biblegateway.com] “The Lord is near.”

Doesn’t that say everything we need to know? All others may seem distant, and at times God can seem distant, yet he is near. He is the empathetic friend who knows everything about us and our circumstances and loves us anyway! I looked up the word “supplication.” It means to pray earnestly and humbly, to petition.

And let this be our prayer: Lord, give us faith, and save us from our fear!

In the popular movie, Jerry MacGuire, one of the characters, a hot young quarterback is asked over and over which team he will sign with. He answers, over and over again: “I’ll surf or ski!” meaning he will play for a coastal team or in Colorado.

When faced with the uncertainty of our lives, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat and asked to make a choice, we answer: “It’ll be faith or fear.” With fear we suffer. With faith we remain hopeful.

After a few years of riding the faith or fear rollercoaster I have racked up enough experiences to know that the things I worried about most never happened and that life is full of surprises. So, like Dr. Phil would ask, I ask myself, “How’s that workin’ for ya?,” that whole fear thing? Giving my present worries and future plans to God allows me the option of living in the certainty of his nearness, and finally of his ever-present vigilance to protect my heart and my mind. The amazing peace beyond understanding begins to fill me with the realization that my destiny lies in the hands of one far greater than I am.