What Is Fear?Fear :
Old English færan(to terrify, ambush, surprise) Definition: A strong emotion due to seeing or becoming aware of danger; the reason or cause of such strong emotion.
At its best, fear helps you protect yourself, and helps to remind you that you don’t have control over everything in your life (and never will). At its worst, fear can turn us into murderous bigots or quivering cowards. A person can create fear in someone else, for vengeance or control. Demagogues tell a story of perilous fear. Great leaders get us to reach beyond fear, even beyond hope, to a future built on a love that is beyond just us and far greater than all fear.Fear can shrink the soul more than anything else except powerlust.
There are many kinds of fear:
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sudden fear (alarm).
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strong desire not to do something (dread). (Like, say, homework.)
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fear of doing something against one’s conscience or better judgment (qualm).
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fear of unfavorable results (worry). (Worry switches attention from taking action to thinking about the chance of failure, which in turn heightens the chance of failure.)
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brief but strong loss of composure (panic).
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fear that causes immediate physical reaction (horror). (This is what’s sought after at Halloween or in some movies.)
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fear of one specific thing beyond reason (phobia).
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irrational fear that people are out to do you harm (paranoia). (They’re not all out to get you. Honest.)
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the surrender to extreme fear (terror). (A terrorist is someone who seeks to control a situation by putting other people into terror.)
Fear Not!
Jesus is several times recorded as saying, “Fear not“. It’s also one of the traditional messages of the angels. Psalm 23 says “I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me”. Fears that are turned over to God will be muted or harnessed, or will go away. Instead of fearing the darkness, seek the light. Go against God, and there is no reason not to be in terror, except perhaps for God’s unfathomable mercy.
When you stop trying to be in control and let God be in control, there is no cause for fear, for the One in Control loves you and seeks the best for you. Trust in God’s love casts out fear.When you stop fearing your neighbor, it opens you up to the possibility of loving them – but it’s not the same thing as actually loving them.
“Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.” Michael Pritchard
Fear God, yes, but don’t be afraid of Him.” J.A. Spender, *The Comments of Bagshot*
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon
Mark 5:36-NIV- Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
(ESV) - But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
Amplified- Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear;only keep on believing.
The Message- Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”
KJV- As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
God knows everything, every thought that proceeds from us…from our hearts and minds, and exactly what alignment we are placing ourselves under. We, often, fail to compute, and comprehend how swiftly emotional reaction to what is seen can put us in a “state” not compatible to God’s Reality, in Christ. Therefore, we continually need to determine, and thus, align with the Reality of God, and not our own selves.
In the KJV we see, clearly, Christ’s immediate reaction, do we not? He declares to the heart and mind that embraces the reasoning and not faith in God:
Be not afraid-
afraid-5399 phobeo fob-eh’-o from 5401; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:–be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly)
There is a side of me that is chuckling when I read this definition of afraid, from the original language. Why? Their is a slight implying that being frightened is “passively” being alarmed; when man is residing in fear and being afraid, our feelings and emotions are not exactly “passive”, are they?! Not usually-not at all; for we permit another “influence” of reasoning, of what may be seen in circumstances to govern how we think. When this “permission” occurs within our feelings, actions, and behavior passivity is not the character description I would have chosen!
When God’s Voice speaks to humanity by and through His Word, He usually defines/ instructs us what not to do, before He declares and directs us want to do, in “light” of God’s Kingdom Realty – not the “World’s reality. As you see I am focusing on one verse, for I am seeing such immediate and personal communication from Our God, Our Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ. Why do I believe this is so dynamic, and valuable for us? There is much I could respond with such a question; however, John 1:1 is sufficient: The Word was- The Word was God- The Word is God. And, as I hope you realize, and know this verse is referring to Jesus- the one who’s Voice is being directed to us from Mark 5:36.
“Only believe”-
Only- 3440 monon mon’-on neuter of 3441 as adverb; merely:–alone, but, only.
Believe- 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo’-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit;by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):–believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with
Why do we- why do “Christians”… anyone of God’s human creation…havesuch difficulty in incorporating this principle from these words to our hearts and minds? We find it questionable that “our spiritual well-being” is more important hat the “reality” of the situation, the living life; correct?So, then, as we place ourselves, our hearts, our minds- the operation of our own thoughts above the value of God’s thoughts- the direction from His Voice- we choose to place ourselves in the influence of another force that God.
He, God, though Christ is the only real “credit”, the divine Power, our God- in whom Trust should reside, and be thecontrol of ourselves.
… said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them;just trust me.” – The Message
Um…this is not only a translation, for modern man,this is what He want us to receive from Him,
in each and every day… in all moments of fear, of granting the permission of that influence to manage your life.
