Don’t Let the Fear In

John 14:27b – Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Anxiety. Confusion. Apprehension. Suspense. The disciples were shocked at the news of what Jesus was saying. Was it true that Jesus was going to be killed? Wasn’t He the long-awaited Saviour? How could this be? Wasn’t He the one who was going to change everything for Israel? They couldn’t wrap their minds around that fact. It seemed that everything they had based their faith on was being taken away, indeed, the rug was being pulled out from beneath them. The magnitude of what the Lord was saying was too much for them to understand. Knowing that His friends were being overwhelmed, Jesus gave them instructions that would enable them to navigate peacefully through the hardships they were about to face.

When the Bible speaks of the heart, it most often refers to our inner person, the core and nucleus of our life. Those who study cellular biology tell us that the nucleus of a cell is considered the command center, issuing orders for growth, maturity, division, or even, death. Our heart is similar in that, it too, is a command center; it gives directions that we subconsciously follow. Our day to day lives will always conform to the dictates and commands issued from our hearts. What fills our heart will eventually fill our life. What we believe in the heart, either positive or negative, affects our lives accordingly.

Jesus is informing the disciples, and all of us today, that we are not to allow our hearts to entertain any anxious or fearful thoughts. The thoughts are real, and the pressures are real, but we do not have to succumb to our emotions and feelings. Have you noticed how quickly our minds can go from a place of peace to one of turmoil and panic? Do not let this happen. We are not powerless victims who must yield to every negative thought, but we are powerful victors who can calmly regulate our minds and emotions. As one survivor of a Nazi concentration camp has said, ‘Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose ones’ attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose ones’ own way.’

In a time of crisis, the last thing we need is widespread panic. What we need is calm, thoughtful, guidance. All of us are called to some form of leadership, even if it is only our own selves that we lead. We must lead our emotions, not be led by them. We must lead our fears, not be controlled by them. We must lead our thought-life, not be governed by it. We must become that rare person who is called a non-anxious presence. The ones who remain calm are the ones who also remain sane; they see more clearly and make better decisions. Jesus said it to His disciples then, and He is saying it to us as well; do not allow your hearts to be troubled or upset, and do not allow fear to control you. Someone has once written that those who take responsibility during a crisis are those to whom power flows. They are the ones to whom answers come. A friend of mine told me that in one ancient Eastern language there was only one symbol for crisis, and it meant both danger and opportunity. To those who are overwhelmed by anxiety and fear, the crisis is dangerous, but to those who are calmly and deliberately governing their emotions, it is an opportunity. That is the good news, this crisis can be an opportunity to re-examine our priorities and our lifestyles. It can be an opportunity to draw closer to our Father God and closer to each other. It can be an occasion for positive change. Do not be overanxious or discouraged, friends, you are not alone in this fight. No matter how you may feel, reach out and take comfort and take courage. Do not let your hearts be troubled!

Power to the Faint

 

Power to the Faint

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. 

    The God we serve is not far off, distant, or disengaged from our lives; in fact, He is the exact opposite of that. He is the up-close-and-personal God; the greatest and most caring Father one could ever know, and this is the One of whom Isaiah says that He gives power to the faint. It is always His will and desire to give, and that is because giving is at the root and core of His very nature.

    What is it that the Lord wants to give? Power. Nothing in this life will be of any beneficial use without power. Mankind has always looked for ways to harness a greater power to produce maximum results. In the days before electrical power was dominant, there were other forms of power which were utilized by men. It might have been the power of the long branch operated to leverage a heavy object, or the power of the horse pulling a plow, or that of the rushing river turning a wheel to grind wheat into flour. Likewise, our bodies need an outside power which is greater than ourselves, and our gracious Father is in the power business.

    He gives power; we do not earn it. It is freely given, but just like electricity must be conducted, so the laws surrounding God’s power must be followed for it to flow unhindered. As was stated previously, it is always God’s will to give, but there is no giving without one to receive the gift, and the way that we receive from Him is faith. Faith is conducive to the flow of power.

   When something is referred to as being faint, then that means it is feeble and weak. A faint signal would be one that is extremely hard to hear and barely perceptible; a faint light would be a dim bulb that is on the verge of burning out; and a faint body would be one that is very fragile and without strength or vitality. God gives power to the faint; He strengthens the weak bodies of people and places them on a path of recovery. He strengthens their resolve and fills them anew with hope. Power from God does not always remove the sickness instantaneously, although it can, it often simply strengthens the body and promotes a healing process. If we are struggling with a sickness or, a chronic weakness of any kind, based on this verse, we can confidently ask and expect God to give us His power and strength to sustain us and empower us to overcome the difficulty.

    Who is it that God desires to give His power to? The faint and those who have no strength. The heart of our Father God seems to be attracted to the underdog and to those who are suffering and have no one to help them. Indeed, He says elsewhere that He will not extinguish a dimly burning wick. This is good news for all of us who may find ourselves in a dark and depressed place, without hope, for when we are at the end of our self, we find the beginning of God. Being at the end of our rope is the right time to let go and let God catch us in His loving arms, and once those arms surround and embrace us, His power is simultaneously transferred into us. He is so faithful, so reliable, and so generous; without a doubt; He gives power to the faint.