Fear No Fear

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

““But now those who are younger than I have me in derision,
    whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me,
    men in whom ripe age has perished?
They are gaunt from lack and famine.
    They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes.
    The roots of the broom tree are their food.
They are driven out from among men.
    They cry after them as after a thief,
so that they live in frightful valleys,
    and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
They bray among the bushes.
    They are gathered together under the nettles.
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men.
    They were flogged out of the land.
“Now I have become their song.
    Yes, I am a byword to them.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me,
    and don’t hesitate to spit in my face.”
(Job 30:1-10)

“I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
    Turn your ear to me.
    Hear my speech.
Show your marvelous loving kindness,
    you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
    Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who oppress me,
    my deadly enemies, who surround me.
They close up their callous hearts.
    With their mouth they speak proudly.
They have now surrounded us in our steps.
    They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
    as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.”
(Psalm 17:6-12)

“For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek. For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things.“
(Romans 1:16-23)

Job was rejected. People who used to listen to him and rely on his judgment were scorning him. People not even capable of being trusted with sheep were thinking themselves better than him. Even his three friends felt themselves wiser than him. It all came from their idea that God had forsaken him. That he was alone and the suffering he was experiencing was a good thing. It is the same attitude the religious elite of Judea had about Jesus during His crucifixion. Their idea of God was flawed, so their idea of how God was viewing Job was flawed.

David felt assailed. He felt rejected. People he trusted and had known well were scorning him, standing aloof and laughing at him. David took it as an opportunity to teach. He didn’t shy away from his circumstances, but detailed them and what he was feeling. Then he pointed toward the Lord. He knew that he was nothing in himself and relied entirely on the Lord. He knew the promises of the Lord and he trusted in them. He believed what the Lord had said so deeply that what he was experiencing and what he was witnessing happening around him wasn’t as real as what God said. He spoke about it and taught it to keep others from stumbling. From giving up and giving in. David clung to the promises of the Lord with certainty.

We do not have to rely on God. We can choose to go our own way. We can choose to replace Him in our lives with any number of things. Model idols aren’t statues of animals or snakes. Model idols are the things we covet. The media we sink into and let consume our waking hours. The passions and people we fill our thoughts with. Modern idols seem very technological and advanced. But they serve the same function as ancient idols. They put something in the place where God is supposed to reside. They block our view of the Lord and take our attention off of Him. They help us to lean into our feelings of suffering and discontent. They help us let go of His promises. They help us focus on the SEEN alone. They take our eyes of what is actually and objectively real. If we stop glorifying God as God, and if we lean into what we think is right and good, God will honour our decision. He will let us have what we are insisting on having. God is good. God won’t force you to have a relationship with Him. It is up to us what we will hold onto. God or something else.

Summary

Life happens. Situations come on us. Feelings rise. How we react to them and how they affect us depends entirely on who we are giving glory to. Are we treating God as He should be treated? Is He what we are relying on? If He what we are looking to? If He is, then nothing bad will hit us in a despairing way. No matter what is going on, we will have safety. No matter how violent the environment outside, we can praise and worship Him with our whole hearts. It is our attitude and willingness to humbly submit to Him that determines how we experience life. It determines whether we have peace or whether we fall to pieces. The Lord is trustworthy. The Lord is True. The Lord is reliable. The Lord KEEPS His Word. ALWAYS. Hold onto that. Don’t let go of that. Don’t stumble. Don’t panic. Don’t despair. He is with us. Living inside us. Worship Him, thank Him, and give Him glory NO MATTER WHAT. He is MORE THAN ENOUGH for us and for any and every circumstance that comes our way. Trust Him. No matter what, trust Him.