Your Dying Spouse 742 - It's OK To Be Scared {Five Minute Friday}

The Bible says don't be afraid 365 times...once for each day of the year (I guess you're allowed to be afraid for one day each leap year, and 2020 is a leap year...but I digress).

My point is that may Christians take this to be injunction and command, rather than encouragement...and when they're afraid, they question themselves, and question their faith.

I'm scared, so I don't really trust Jesus...I'm not good enough...I'm weak...why can't I bring myself to obey..?

And we read passages like Matthew 14:22-31, in which Jesus seems to chide Peter for his fear, and lack of faith:

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

But there's more to it than this, more than the 'faith casts out fear' mantra we so often hear.

Jesus would soon feel very frightened, and very alone.

He'd sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, and entreat His friends to stay awake with Him...and He was so disappointed...personally disappointed...when they failed Him.

But what, really, did He have to be afraid of? He knew He'd rise from the dead, right? Job jobbed.

Tell yourself that next time you're at the dentist for a root canal.

And perhaps more than the physical pain, He feared the loneliness that would come from assuming all the world's sin...a complete separation from the Father, in payment of that debt.

Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?

But He knew the relationship would be restored!

OK, tell yourself you'll eventually be released, after robbing a bank and being sentenced to ten years'; hard time with your cellmate a 300lb biker named Squeezer.

Jesus knows pain, and He knows lonely...and He knows you, in these hard, hard days.

This life may seem a prison, but you've got Jesus as your cellmate.

You think you should be fearless

(for ain’t that what the Bible said?),

but in these days that seem so cheerless,

it’s OK, my friend, to be afraid.

When Peter stepped out on the wave

and then cried out in sinking dread,

Jesus, yes, called out his faith,

but did not cut the poor man dead,

for He knew that in due time

He (yes!) would meet blood-sweat terror,

but that it would not be a crime,

nor even an unforced error

to ask God, must this be the plan,
the Passion of the Son of Man?

Music from Sister Hazel, with a delightful live performance of All For You.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.

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