How to Choose Faith over Fear
The cashier's eyes grew large. She paused from scanning my groceries because she was taken aback by my question.
All I asked was, "How are you doing?"
Heather responded, "Well, that is very kind of you to ask. Not many people going through the lines these last few days have asked."
I thanked her and the stockers for being on the front lines in this coronavirus crisis. Indicating they are helping to reduce the panic and fear in our community as shelves are filled instead of barren.
Our hearts were knit together as she shared of the sadness of not seeing her son who was almost home, but now as a Marine would miss his leave. Two strangers. A shared concern. But a conversation that brought a little light and little love to a dark and desperate day.
Fear and anxiety are life altering, panic-inducing, worry-incubating realities. It impacts our mind, body, spirits, and behaviors. Our world is navigating a pandemic spread of the coronavirus and like an earthquake with aftershocks, fear and panic is spreading rampantly.
We are in unprecedented times and it is easy to cower. But we have an opportunity to rise as light, love, and faith in our communities!
Matthew asks who can add a day to their life by worrying? Paul writes be anxious about nothing. The most common command in Scripture is, “Do not fear.” Joshua would know.
So how do we choose faith over fear? As a mom of four, I am certainly not negating wisdom or precautions. As a woman who has navigated depression, I am not overshadowing the help of medicine, natural remedies, or professional help.
But how do we carry ourselves and lead our families with faith, not fear?
It is a choice.
A choice we choose.
We choose our focus.
We choose our posture.
We choose courage, in the face of fear.
WE CHOOSE OUR FOCUS.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV "Fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus was starring down the cross my friends. His eyes could have been fixed on the deadly, painful, humiliating death he would endure. Yet he moved forward with faith. Faith instead of fear, in the plan of God to redeem all salvation through his act.
Today, right now. We choose our focus. Do we worship or worry? Do we pray or ponder CNN? Do we look to Scripture or the stats? We choose our focus.
If you are fearful right now. Turn off the news! Stop scrolling social media. Be present with your God and your people. Play a game. Read a book. Drink a cup of coffee. Read his words from Isaiah 43.
"But now, this is what the Lord says
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you..."
WE CHOOSE OUR POSTURE.
We choose how we carry ourselves in this situation. We choose if we smile as we walk through the grocery store. We choose if we say "hi" to a neighbor. We choose what we write on social media. We choose if we run frantically around to stores and clear out shelves. We choose if we share our food or not, if we give of ourselves for the benefit of another.
Think about it. If your a single - working mom who didn't have time to get to the grocery store. But someone posts on Facebook that if you have a need to ring them up. How do you think that impacts your fear and panic level? It decreases for sure. Someone's got you. Someone's willing to help.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT).
Let's show the world the power of God to breathe light into darkness, joy into despair, faith into our fears, and let's love like crazy!
WE CHOOSE COURAGE, EVEN IN THE FACE OF FEAR.
To quote John Wayne (I know…but I like his sass), "Courage is being scared to death…but saddling up anyway."
And we have that chance right now to choose courage, even in the face of our fears.
Joshua, the leader chosen to fill Moses' shoes, repeatedly was encouraged...even commanded...
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Realize that where we go, he goes. Kind of like the My Buddy toys popular when I was a child. (If I lost you on that one sorry, but if I didn't I bet your singing the theme song, "My buddy clap -clap, my buddy clap- clap, wherever I go, he goes. Sorry I digress.)
Realize where we go, he goes! Who goes? The God who hung the stars in the sky, breathed life into our beings, and made a way for all mankind to connect with him. He goes with us.
We are his kids and he is the King. We can come into his presence with confidence and find our courage in his strength.
If you are not sure you are his kid, there is nothing you have to do but receive. As in opening the gift given to you in Jesus.
"To all who believed [Jesus] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
To enter into the family of God, to become his kid we believe that Jesus in the Son of God who died to take the place of our sins and we invite the leadership of God into our lives. We don't just believe in our minds but we "accept" meaning to take in one's hand, as in unwrapping this gift.
If you need more help on this point, email me at Erin@ErinNicoleThompson.com, I would be honored to connect and pray with you.
The courage of the King is our to be had as his kid. To anyone who needs wisdom he gives wisdom. He is the great provider and healer. He is in the details and throughout Scripture has been faithful and trustworthy. Just get to know him.
I don't know how this all pans out but I know my God and my hope, and faith, is in him.
