Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Only don’t do two things to me,
    then I will not hide myself from your face:
withdraw your hand far from me,
    and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
Then call, and I will answer,
    or let me speak, and you answer me.
How many are my iniquities and sins?
    Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
Why do you hide your face,
    and consider me your enemy?
Will you harass a driven leaf?
    Will you pursue the dry stubble?
For you write bitter things against me,
    and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
You also put my feet in the stocks,
    and mark all my paths.
    You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
though I am decaying like a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is moth-eaten.”
(Job 13:20-28)

“Show me your ways, Yahweh.
    Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation.
    I wait for you all day long.
Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness,
    for they are from old times.
Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.
    Remember me according to your loving kindness,
    for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
Good and upright is Yahweh,
    therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
He will guide the humble in justice.
    He will teach the humble his way.
All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth
    to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For your name’s sake, Yahweh,
    pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
What man is he who fears Yahweh?
    He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
His soul will dwell at ease.
    His offspring will inherit the land.
The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him.
    He will show them his covenant.“
(Psalm 25:4-14)

Here Job starts to really lean into the sense of his own righteousness. He is asking why God is hiding His face from Job’s righteousness – remember God DID say that Job was righteous and had done nothing to deserve this attack. Job is questioning, almost demanding an answer from God. Why is he being treated like this? Are the sins of his youth coming back to haunt him? Isn’t the general plight of the human condition sufficient suffering for the sins of humanity? Isn’t Job righteous? Isn’t he deserving of right treatment? Why him? Why? Job latches onto this aspect of his situation and never really lets it go.

David was in a similar situation to Job in that he was being attacked from all sides. He too had committed sins in his youth. But David doesn’t ask the ‘why’ question. David requests protection from God, so his enemies won’t disgrace him. David asks for guidance, so that he will talk the correct path. David petitions for forgiveness, in case he had neglected something in his past. And David acknowledges that all prosperity (spiritual and physical) comes to those who revere and trust in God with all their hearts because God blesses those who seek Him. David relies on that promise of blessing and rests in the knowledge that his troubles are all temporary. He WILL be protected. He WILL be guided. He WILL be forgiven. He WILL be blessed. David holds onto that and never really lets it go.

Summary

All our suffering in this world is temporary. In fact, stacked up against the amount of time we will spend with God in His Kingdom, all human suffering is a blip. A moment. A brief thing to endure (2 Corinthians 4:17). We can waste our time demanding the whys of life, or we can spend our time focusing on the promises of God. We are not owed the WHY of ANYTHING. We’re not God. We’re not making command decisions. We’re not in charge. We are servants. We are obeyers. We are followers of God. If something bad happens, we can trust He didn’t send it. He has a plan. And we can endure through it. No matter how bad it is. No matter if we succumb while we are trusting in Him. We will spend more time with God than we will suffering. Creation is imperfect because Sin twisted it. We will and can endure because of Jesus. In Him we have overcome. In Him we have victory. We are sharing His victory and nothing can EVER take that from us. Trust God. Hold to His Word. He keeps His promises. Period. Never let go.