What are people afraid of? What are you afraid of? When is fear good? When is it bad?
Imagine your life wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart an extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, and doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, absent the dread of failure, rejection, and calamity. Can you imagine a life with no fear? - Max Lucado, Fearless, Chapter 1
How do you know if fear is (or isn't) overly directing your life? How does fear shape sometimes shape your life?
Getting on board with Christ can mean getting soaked with Christ. Disciples can expect rough seas and stout winds. Max Lucado, Fearless, Chapter 1
How much was "better life" a part of your decision to do life with God? How does Lucado's insight mess with your understanding of the benefits of following Christ? Is this a deal breaker?
Fear corrodes our confidence in God's goodness. We begin to wonder if love lives in heaven. Max Lucado, Fearless, Chapter 1
When have you felt like this? How does it impact your faith?
The fear-filled life cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasculates greatness. Max Lucado, Fearless, Chapter 1
From the Bible... Matthew 8:23-27 (NLT)
Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
Jesus found the only protected spot in the boat - in the stern where nets were kept. He was sound asleep while the disciples were freaking out. When they felt they were hopeless, they finally woke Jesus up, asking for him to do something about their perilous predicament.
Do you ever do this? Do you ever put off waking God up from his slumber? Sometimes I think I can handle everything on my own - why bother God with little stuff? Sometimes I am boldly arrogant, wanting to be in control of my own destiny - what if I don't like how God handles my situation? Do you ever approach the storms of life like I sometimes do? In retrospect, how was your quality of life when you were handling everything on your own without bothering God? Would God's approach have made your life worse? Do you suppose God gets annoyed with us asking for help when we're facing storms?
From the Bible... John 8:33 (NLT)
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. - Jesus
What difference does Jesus' statement make, really? What does it mean to have peace in me?
From the Bible... 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. - Apostle Paul encouraging Timothy, a young pastor getting beat up by his congregation.
Challenge: memorize one or both of the encouraging statements above - Jesus' or Paul's. When you next begin to experience fear, recall and recite these statements. Ask God to help you recognize your fear and ask for God's help facing your fear.
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