Why Fear?
Gordon Crook, PastorGrace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas
“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26
Read Matthew 8:23-27. Jesus asks a question in this passage: “Why are you fearful?” I have always thought that Jesus was rebuking their fear because He knew the winds could be stilled. I’m not sure that is the case. It might be more simple than that. They were in the boat with Jesus. Whatever happened to them would also happen to Him. He was “with them” in the most personal sense.
It is not the ability to do something miraculous that should abate our fears. It is the faith to know that Jesus is with us. The Psalmist also knew this truth. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” Psalm 46:1-3. Notice that it is not the lack of upheaval, but trust in God that removes fear.
Abraham walked away from his family and the life he had to go somewhere that God told him to go. This would be pretty scary for anyone. Then, he finds himself wondering about what was really going to happen. He still did not have a child to carry on his lineage, and God had promised him a great nation. In Genesis 15:1 we find this: “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
God simply reminds Abraham that He is in charge and will take care of things. Faith is not about believing that nothing “bad” can happen to us, but rather believing that God is still in control. Paul reminds us of this. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 This does not say that all things will be exactly how we want them. It reminds us that God knows what is best and will do what is best for us.
Paul actually lived this in his ministry. In Acts 27, he is being taken to Rome as a prisoner, and things go very bad on part of the trip. Their boat is overwhelmed by stormy seas. God does not expect Paul to rise up and rebuke the wind and save the boat. He does tell Paul that he does not have to fear because God is going to save his life and the lives of all that are with him.
Fear is removed because we trust God to do what is best even if that means going through the storm and possibly being shipwrecked. Sometimes we just want the miracle to happen for us so we can avoid the unpleasant part.
The thing that most brings fear to people is death. It seems so final, and we cannot just ask someone what is on the other side because no one comes back. This is where faith really meets the road. For this very reason, we have God’s Word to let us know. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
This has been true since the garden. Sin brought death, and from the human perspective, death seems very final, and sometimes very cruel. David had many times that he was sure he was going to die. He came to a certain realization that he did not need to fear this. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4
For God’s children, death is not an evil to be feared. This does not mean that we are suicidal, but it does mean that we do not need to fear death. Even there, God is with us. Jesus told us that He came so that we might have life more abundantly. That does not just end in this life, but takes us into eternal life.
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. This is what drives our faith. The greatest miracle is that Jesus gives us life and a life that overcomes death.
For the believer, death is simply to the next step that takes us into God’s presence. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8. Paul knew this well, having been many times in circumstances that could easily lead to his death. However, he had a secret that kept him out of fear. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Fear is Satan’s tool to keep you from enjoying your life with Jesus. It is always a way to stop you from laying hold of faith. Not faith that God is going to drop some miracle to keep you from anything bad. It is faith that God is in control and always has your best interest at heart. Not just because someone says so, but because God has demonstrated His love and His care over His people.
