Facing our fears

When we’re anxious or fearful about the future, is religion anything more than a comforting distraction? For many people, choosing to believe in God makes little or no impact in their day-by-day sojourn through life. We may believe in heaven and a God who is responsible for the afterlife, but what about this life? Are we responsible for finding our own purpose and our own path to walk, or is there a greater meaning to our existence? And if we have no God-given purpose, can we be satisfied knowing that fulfillment is only ever measured against our own best intentions? If the outlook is dismal, can’t we simply lower our expectations and convince ourselves that we are doing as well as we can? However, purpose is the promise of Christianity; it is something that surpasses ourselves and is worth living and dying for. In this month’s On That Note we will look at two examples of men who overcame fear and found true purpose through faith in God; they are Moses and King David.

Many are familiar with the account of Moses’ miraculously leading God’s people through the Red Sea. The people had grown fearful and had complained that they would have been better off dying as slaves than being run down and killed in a desert. But Moses knew that it was within God’s power to fulfill the purpose of His chosen people. So he said to them, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today.’ Ex 14:13. God desires to choose every person. And when faced with a fearful outlook, this amazing promise of Moses applies today. Firstly, do not fear! If God has a purpose for us, He will accomplish it. Secondly, stand by. We must maintain our composure and hold fast to our hope in the Lord. Lastly, see byopening the eyes and ears of faith and perceive the wisdom of God, by which His will and purpose is accomplished.

The psalmists often wrote about their mounting fear that God’s purpose mightn’t be accomplished. In Psalm 42 we read, ‘I will say to God, my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?” As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”’ Psa 42:9,10. We can relate to this psalmist who fundamentally believed there is an omnipotent, omnipresent God who is his ‘rock’ but who grew fearful as difficult circumstances burdened and buffeted him. At times, we feel shattered and wonder how God is controlling His purpose for us. These are the tests of faith in the life of a Christian. The psalmist buoyed himself and rallied his spirit once again. He asked of himself, ‘Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance.’ Psa 42:11. What a courageous decision to face his fears. When we are downcast and fearful – God can prevail. Moses led God’s people through the Red Sea and they rejoiced on the other side. They exclaimed, ‘I will sing to the Lord. The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.’ Ex 15:1,2. This is how the Lord can be the ‘help of our countenance’. Our countenance is our expression or face. When we hope in God and truly believe, we will yet praise Him as our strength and song. He is our confidence to stand, face our fears, and see His unique purpose for us accomplished.

Lachlan Perrin

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Feature Articles
March 2010

First Place

In and out

Facing our fears

First love

Fronting up!

Are you the one?

Seek Him first

The first and the best

When the axe is blunt

Come home

Familiarity breeds contempt