Which Kind of Fear?

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’  And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'” Mark 4:35-40

Jesus ordered the training of his disciples to reveal both Himself and them. He walked with them step-by-step through many life situations, and as He divulged through Word and deed aspects of His own character, their responses unfolded the truth about their own hearts. By grace, He moved them from fear to faith, from the human to the divine.

In each of us God has planted a certain innate fear. He fashioned sensitivity to danger and evil as protection, and consciences quickened by the Holy Spirit to detect temptation. Through the ongoing process of sanctification, He molds and redeems our impulses.

When we face each day in our own sufficiency and strength, we tend toward worry and fear because we cannot control our circumstances. When we choose to rest in the sovereignty of God, trusting His grace and order of all things, a transformed fear leads to reverent worship of Him is who is on the throne.

Do I worry and tremble at waves that engulf me, or do I fall and tremble in honor before the One who controls the waves? Do anxieties keep me up at night, or cause me to bow down on my knees before the One who speaks peace? Is my fear of man and what-ifs greater than my trust in God? Which kind of fear rules my emotions and influences my attention? (Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 51:12; Hebrews 13:6; 1 Peter 3:14–15)

“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.” ~Catharina Schlegel (1697-1797)

Fearing this God puts to peaceful rest all else that in the flesh we would otherwise fear.

Lord Jesus, in every circumstance may I fear You aright and honor You with the trust and praise you deserve.