What do you fear?

 

Job 3:25-26, “For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes." The KJV goes, “I was not in safety, nor did I have rest, nor was I quiet; yet trouble comes.”

If 2012 is to be our year of miracles, then 2012 should also be the year of the crucifixion of all our fears. Indeed, there are no miracles without faith, and fear is the antithesis of faith. As long as Peter walked by faith, he walked on water; but when he started walking by sight, he panicked and began to sink. Faith made him walk on water (like Jesus); fear made him sink (like anybody). We must get rid of all our fears.

The Bible tells us that each time his children gathered to have a party, Job would sanctify them when the party was over and would offer sacrifices to appease the Lord, saying: “may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” (Job 1:5) Some will say: “Wow! What a loving and thoughtful father!” And they will admire his exceptional piety. However, Job’s attitude was not motivated by faith, but by fear. He was appeasing God in advance, lest He gets angry and strikes. He lived in fear of the wrath of God and was afraid of losing everything. You know there are people like that? God has given them 'everything', as they say; but they cannot rest in their blessings, they cannot just feel safe and relax: “Who am I to deserve all this? Maybe I'm dreaming and I'll wake up and everything will be gone? Oh, these cars and this money that God has given me; what if the thieves… What if the bank goes bankrupt? What if…? What if…?” Job was like that: he was not in safety, he had no rest and trouble came. His worst fears materialized themselves: the nightmare became reality and he lost everything…

What do you fear? What are you afraid of?

Faith activates certain spiritual forces (including angels) which produce certain actions. Fear also, triggers other spiritual forces (often from darkness) which set off specific actions too. I know someone who was afraid to have a form of cancer since adolescence. Lo and behold, this person developed that cancer without any genetic, familial or environmental predisposition for it! The person just got up one day, started dreading ever having that cancer and a few years were just what it took for it to incubate. I don’t even want to talk about those who tremble any time that their horoscope is not positive.

The worst thing is that when what we feared eventually happens, we seldom realize what our own responsibility in all that is. We rather tend to say: “I knew it was going to end like this; I felt it.” Or, “It was written that…” And unfortunately, this takes us into a vicious circle. I dread something which ends up happening anyway; therefore, I interpret it as if my fears are premonitory and a disaster is on the way; so, because I expect another calamity, I loose my sleep and my peace; and of course, a new drama knocks at my door and here we go again.

What do you fear? What are you afraid of?

When I learned to drive, after the usual: belt, mirrors, right holding of the steering wheel etc., the first thing the instructor told me after I started the car was to always keep my eyes fixed on where I wanted to steer the vehicle. He explained to me that the hands (on the steering wheel) follow the direction of our gaze by reflex. And it’s true; I crossed-checked it. If when you drive, you start to focus on the truck on your right because you're scared of a collision, you’ll imperceptibly lead your car towards it and run against it.

So it goes in the spiritual world. If you drive the car of your life with your eyes fixed on the Lord, you’ll get to your destination because He knows where He is leading you: He masters the way. But if you drive the car of your life with your eyes fixed on fear, you will hit all the obstacles and bump all the trucks terrifying you on the road: you might not come alive of one of these accidents. Let’s get rid of all our fears before the end of this month of January: 2012 is waiting for us!

God bless you!