Faith as God’s gift, over fear

Facing this week’s scary possibilities, imagining very-plausible-horrible in my thoughts, also clouded by my grief of a sudden death last week, I wondered…was Jesus ever afraid? Scripture doesn’t reveal a time when He was.

Why would He be? He’s God!

But Jesus was also human and He faced anticipated suffering as humans do, in this fallen world. Even approaching the cross, He set His face as a flint (Is. 50:7; Lk. 9:51), knowing it had purpose. He knew the weight of His suffering was one He would carry for His sheep.

So, why would I be afraid of the pain and hardship I may endure this week? Because suffering is hard. It hurts. 

But is the popular hashtag #faithoverfear the answer? Or do I need something a bit different?

Reading my old prayer journals from years of worsening symptoms in the 90s, I see the answer our compassionate God had given to me, into my own fears. It wasn’t mustering up or declaring brave courage, trying to increase my own faith or strengthen it with my own works and striving. After all, our faith in Christ is completely God’s gift to us, for Jesus is the creator, sustainer, and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). 

No, it was knowing that I can’t…but God IS God and He can…so I can face fears with God’s gift of grace to me…of Himself.

Maybe I simply need God’s gift of Jesus, over fear.

God’s presence, God’s gift over fear

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing.

(“A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” Luther, M., 1529, trans. 1852)

As illness wore on in the mid-90s, I had prayed:

Oh Father, I can’t do it today without You. I’m sore, tired, grumpy. Demands, cleaning, children, laundry…it’s all bearing down on me. Give me the strength to do what’s necessary. Help me to love. I’m afraid of this impossible fatigue and the blinding headaches. 

were not the right man on our side,
the man of God’s own choosing.

God’s gift, Jesus Christ, very-man and very-God, goes before me in this hard road and He is with me.

God’s help and care, God’s gift over fear

How does Jesus respond to very real fears with His followers? His words of “do not fear” aren’t harsh commands. I’ve learned they’re gentle words like a parent to a child, with a tone of “I’m right here, I’ve got you. Yes, this is scary and that’s normal in this situation, but it’s going to be OK. You need my help right now. You’re utterly dependent, leaning on Me. You can’t, but I can. No matter what happens, I am with you and I’ll hang onto you, holding you up as you walk through it. Don’t be afraid, little one.”

And who is this tender Jesus?

He is also the all-powerful Lord over all, from eternity past into eternity future. He is the reigning Lord of Hosts, of heavenly armies!

Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7 ESV).

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:9 ESV).

Exalting God into anxiety

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Ps. 46:10 ESV). 

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation (Ps. 62:1 ESV).

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God 

is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Ps. 73:25-26 ESV, emphasis added). 

That Word above all earthly pow’rs,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.

God’s peace, God’s gift over fear

“My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27 ESV). 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7 ESV).

In my old prayer journals, I wrote:

Eternal God, praising You with music is a powerful weapon You’ve given me in this battle. Help me sing to take my thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Give me Your victory over the enemy’s attacks. Renew my mind (Romans 12:2) as I sing of You. Emotional strength. Joy as I suffer. No self-pity. Teach me more of Your peace and love so I can endure. Use this to make me more like Christ. As my body fails, please give me Your inner shalom. 

Singing truths of God’s Word is again sustaining me in this week’s fears and tears. Why? Because it stays my mind, my emotions, and my physical body on God Himself. What a gift from God to remember His gift in the past to help me endure the present and face the future scary ahead.

Material adapted from Singing the Gospel to Job: Finding Hope in Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle, Copyright © 2022

Singing Scriptural truths into fear

Sister in Christ, I’m exhausted, writing this as I walk into very-plausible fears of what this new challenge could bring. The music-therapy-inspired playlists are now ready for me to sing aloud and use as prayers, tools for the battles to come! They aren’t just for me—they’re also for you.

If you would like to sing (or pray through) truths of God’s Word into your battles too, the resources are below. I pray that God’s gift of Jesus will walk you through what you fear, as we exalt His great name, together.