DO NOT FEAR #1

Many times as I begin, or try to begin, to meditate I am taken down by an immediate sensation of helplessness. Sometimes this is good because I place myself completely into the care of the Father without much resistance, but sometimes the helplessness goes the other way and produces a kind of nagging fear. I feel unsettled, vulnerable, out of control, and even desperate. All these things are seeds of fear. They are covered in the soil of my soul and given right conditions they will sprout. It is at this moment I must decide to water and cultivate the fear or quickly snap off the new sprout. It is a choice, most of the time.

One of the things that produces the strongest witness for the disciple is to be able, or try to be able, to follow and know the Lord without being afraid. To not do so, according to Jesus, is ‘a lack of faith.’ When the early disciples were caught in a difficult sea, or with difficult people, and became fearful, the Lord responded, “Do not be afraid” and ended with “Be full of faith.” This kind of fear sets in on us because we are trusting in our abilities and ourselves. When we are fearless it is because we have placed our faith in God in every, and even impossible, situations. We believe nothing is impossible for our God and therefore nothing is impossible for the God in us.

“Do not fear, only believe.” Jesus