Faith Fixes Fear

But not in the way you think. 

Some people like to throw around accusations that feeling intense emotions during scary or unpredictable situations isn’t very Christian-like. “Just pray about it, and it’ll all work out for those who love Him!” “God doesn’t give more to you than you can handle!” These are kind platitudes but not always Biblical.

I’m here to tell you that those intense feelings are completely in line with being a Christian, and perfectly acceptable so long as we remember our place with God. 

I promise I’ll make it back to how faith fixes fear, but let’s talk about two men in the Bible that sum this concept up really well! 

Job. What a mess, right? Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong, and he eventually turns his frustration towards God. In Job chapters 32-37, his friend Elihu summarizes the thought process Job falls into: self-righteousness at the expense of God’s justice. He is defending his innocence and not God’s character. He has become self-absorbed to the point that he isn’t glorifying God. That isn’t a place we want to be! 

When God responds, He reminds Job that it isn’t his (or our) job (get it. because the name Job is spelt like job??) to understand the universe or God’s plan. It’s our job to trust in Him. To have that fancy word: Faith. 

Then, we see David. The man after God’s own heart. The Psalms are full of his intense emotions, his demanding of God to help him, SAVE him! He is unapologetic in his honesty to God, but he doesn’t elevate himself above God. He trusts in God wholly, in so many situations such as the story in which he defends his people in killing Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and again when he chooses not to kill Saul (1 Samuel 24). He knew that God had a plan, and trusted Him wholly. Not only did he trust, but he acted accordingly, glorifying Him and honoring Him. 

So, how does faith fix fear? Not by making fear suddenly not exist, but because it reminds us that control isn’t anything we ever have. 

Usually fear comes from a fear of the unknown, a lack of control over the situation, but when we know that there is no such thing as the unknown, and we know that control is in the hand of the only capable being in the universe, we have a chance to combat that fear. Fear can be a good thing in some situations. Like if an alligator (because FLORIDA) is running towards you, you want the FEAR to make that adrenaline in your brain force your body to act. Fear of the unknown, while a normal emotion, is not as healthy or “good.”

I absolutely love romance novels, but I only read Happily Ever Afters (HEA’s). If it’s going to end horribly, I won’t read it. I look it up before I even think about buying or borrowing the book. 

Because of this, I can trust that no matter what happened between the beginning and end (trust me, I spent a portion of today sobbing during the obligatory break up scene of a book today) I know that they will live happily ever after. 

In the same way, God has the story written out for us. The story of our lives, your life, and the entire life of the universe. He knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen. There is nothing that will take Him by surprise. (hello, omniscience!!) We can have faith in that. 

Now, don’t get this post wrong, this doesn’t fix the situation by any stretch of the imagination. Faith isn’t going to suddenly make everything hunky dory, or take the situation away from us. We aren’t promised an easy or unproblematic life. We are actually promised the opposite in John 16:33. Jesus tells us that in this life we WILL have suffering. How comforting, right? No, but Jesus also promises us the peace that comes from loving and knowing God. 

John 16:33: I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

I was recently given some earth shattering news, and I still don’t know how I made it through the first day. Love from family/friends and a reliance on God, and maybe more carbs than I should have allowed probably played the biggest factor. 

Now, trusting in God doesn’t take away the grief that comes from devastating news, or the anger that it’s happening, or even the wondering why it had to happen to me. But it does take away the fear that comes from not knowing what’s going on. 

I don’t know, my husband doesn’t know, the doctors don’t even know for sure what will happen, but God does. 

Faith gives us something to stand on in the uncertainty. It gives us something to hold on to when it feels like we’re drowning. AND it gives us the most important thing: a purpose as the situation unfolds. Glorifying and honoring God through it. 

Although situations may not work out the way we deem best, we can know that it’s best to Him. When someone dies, they can be with God now! When we get diagnosed with something, we can glorify God by being a light to those around us. Our joy in the struggle and reliance on God can bring others closer to Him. We also are reminding people that we don’t have to go through it alone. 

Scary situations don’t go away, but the edge of that fear can be taken away by trusting in God. How have you trusted in God during scary situations?