Christian Living
FEAR
In a dream, I felt paralysed by fear, as two thugs intimidated me while another took my wife away to be killed. Suddenly, I grabbed an object and rendered the thugs unconscious. It was if something just snapped, and I was able to take action. My love for my wife gave me the courage to do something. Violence may not always be the appropriate way to respond, but we need to learn to live our lives free from the tyranny of fear.
When we allow fear to control our decisions, we become captives who are forced to watch helplessly as the things that matter to us get destroyed. But when we find a strong enough motivation – like love – to move our focus from ourselves, we can find the power to overcome our fears and take action.
We all have a natural fear response (fight or flight) that prepares our bodies for action, but it doesn’t tell us what the right decision is. Four things that can help us make better decisions are good preparation, strong values, a clear purpose, and faith in God.
1. Good preparation enables us to know what to do when danger threatens to cause panic.
On Black Saturday (Australia), the Fire training we received helped us to know what to expect and what to do about it. Without the training, we would have tried to flee – when it was too late – and could easily have died on the road, as happened to some.
2. Strong values and convictions will guide our actions, when there is no time to weigh the options.
A man (Los Angeles) saved another man – who had fallen off a train platform – by moving him between the tracks and lying on top of him. It was a split-second decision that could have resulted in his death, because there was only a 5cm clearance between the train and his head when it passed over them. While the others on the platform hesitated, he took action because “it was the right thing to do.”
3. A clear purpose or role helps us to focus on the task at hand – even under duress.
A 5 year old child was asked why he saved two children from the rubble of his collapsed school, after the Phillipines Earthquake. His response, “I am the class monitor, and I am supposed to look after my classmates.”
4. A strong faith in God gives us a purpose and a confidence bigger than ourselves.
In 1949, a pastor named Watchman Nee was studying in England when the communists took over China. He willingly returned home – knowing full well that he could be arrested or killed – because his congregation needed him. He was willing to trust God with his future, and God used his courage to help the Church thrive under suffering. Back then, the church numbered a few million at the most. Today, the conservative estimates range between 70-120 million Christian in China.
Fear is part of living in a fallen world, yet the Scriptures are constantly asking us have faith rather than fear. We are never ever in full control, but we can do what we can and learn to trust the Lord for the rest.
The Bible says, “Cast all your anxieties upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Mark Trodd
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