Do you believe that God is good? Do you believe God will come through for you? Are you afraid of what will happen this week? Are you afraid of the next three months?
We might have the right information about God and the right Bible verses that say God is good but that doesn’t mean we live like we believe it. To the core of why we fear, maybe, is because we don’t know if God is good. We wonder, will God come through for me?
This is my struggle. I can look back in my life and know with certainty, God has protected me, God has provided for me and God has loved me. I know it. I see it in my past. But, what about today? What about tomorrow? What about money to pay bills? What about my health? What about my parent’s health? What about my kids? I know who God has been to me and what He has done for me clear as day. But I don’t know about today or tomorrow. Even the hard times I walked through helped me for today. Ugh, but what about tomorrow?
Do you see what fear does? It takes every good undeniable thing God has done for me in my past and steals it. It steals my faith in God. It steals everything I know about God. I know God is good; fear steals that. I know God has cared for me; fear steals that. I know God has protected and provided for me; fear steals that. What is scary? All of that can be stolen in one news report. Fear steals my good undeniable experience with God. Fear steals my joy and passion and courage and makes me a coward. I know God has been good, but I wonder, will God come through for me?
This is why, when the Children of Israel were freed from slavery and 45 days later, they wanted to go back to slavery.
6:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt, the whole company of Israel moved on from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. 2 The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said, “Why didn’t GOD let us die in comfort in Egypt where we had lamb stew and all the bread we could eat? You’ve brought us out into this wilderness to starve us to death, the whole company of Israel!” MSG Exodus 16:1-3
Who in their right mind would ever want to go back to slavery? Actually, if fear steals all the good and undeniable things God has done for you, you would. This isn’t a bizarre story. This is a story about you and me. The Children of Israel did exactly what we do when we allow fear to steal all the good and undeniable things of God.
When I walk in fear, all of my life becomes about me. I think: ‘I don’t have enough.’ ‘I am alone.’ ‘What if everything goes bad?’ ‘God isn’t good.’ And when I allow fear to dominate my emotions, I think the only way to find joy is to take control. Control of everything and everyone. Why control? Because, God might not come through for me, I have to do it myself. Because, God might not be a good God.
Look at what God has done for you.
Before you were created, God knew who you were and wanted to love you. Ephesians 1:4-5
God formed you in your mom’s belly. Psalms 139:13
God sent His son to die for you. John 3:16
God sent His Holy Spirit to live in you and empower you. Luke 11:13
What more could God have done for you to prove His love for you? Look at your past. See what God has done for you. Write it down. God has proven His love for you, hasn’t He? Now, go live like it. Go live in courage.
Please, as we move forward, be aggressive and vigilant in staying up to date with the PA Dept of Health. Protect yourself and others. Please don’t allow fear of today to steal all the good and undeniable things God has done for you in the past. Spend purposeful time with God in prayer.
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7