The following comments were
on the personal blog of one of our workers in Asia. Good words for all of us--even those of us 'resting easy' in the West--to remember:
Fear.
It's contagious, you know, spreads like a viral infection from the lips of the fearful.
I've felt it here. Felt the disease cripple my hands, feet. Make me turn off lamps at night so no light seeps through our windows and doors, making our house appear pitch black. Uninhabited.
I'm not immune to the disease.
And on Sunday, when a mom from little T.'s school distributes an audio message saying the "bad guys" have entered town, I feel prickly fear crawl all over my skin.
"I'm sooo scared," a mom texts, "don't want to send my kid to school."
"What do we do?" Another mom writes.
One by one, the mothers voice their concerns. The words are infectious.
Do I keep little T. home for another week (there was already a one week delay)? Should I dust off the homeschooling books?
I tell God I need a word. An antidote for the fear. I simply need to know. And I don't want to be put to shame.
Psalm 112.
The word comes like a gentle whisper. Like a Chinook wind. I flip through the Bible, eager to read the contents. My eyes rest on these words:
"Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." (vs. 6-8)
On Monday, I dress little T. for school, sending him off with prayers and tears. Sending him off in light of God's promise and assurance. Sending him off in foolish faith (in the eyes of the world).
The truth is when God whispers the antidote, no matter how counter-intuitive to worldly wisdom, succumbing to fear is sheer faith suicide.
You want to know the antidote? "Blessed are those who fear the Lord." (Psalm 112:1a)
The more I fear God, the less I'll fear man.
I send little T. again on Tuesday. On Wednesday. On Thursday. And since then, each day with a little more courage that I possessed in the beginning.
It's contagious, you know, spreads like a viral infection from the lips of the fearful.
I've felt it here. Felt the disease cripple my hands, feet. Make me turn off lamps at night so no light seeps through our windows and doors, making our house appear pitch black. Uninhabited.
I'm not immune to the disease.
And on Sunday, when a mom from little T.'s school distributes an audio message saying the "bad guys" have entered town, I feel prickly fear crawl all over my skin.
"I'm sooo scared," a mom texts, "don't want to send my kid to school."
"What do we do?" Another mom writes.
One by one, the mothers voice their concerns. The words are infectious.
Do I keep little T. home for another week (there was already a one week delay)? Should I dust off the homeschooling books?
I tell God I need a word. An antidote for the fear. I simply need to know. And I don't want to be put to shame.
Psalm 112.
The word comes like a gentle whisper. Like a Chinook wind. I flip through the Bible, eager to read the contents. My eyes rest on these words:
"Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." (vs. 6-8)
On Monday, I dress little T. for school, sending him off with prayers and tears. Sending him off in light of God's promise and assurance. Sending him off in foolish faith (in the eyes of the world).
The truth is when God whispers the antidote, no matter how counter-intuitive to worldly wisdom, succumbing to fear is sheer faith suicide.
You want to know the antidote? "Blessed are those who fear the Lord." (Psalm 112:1a)
The more I fear God, the less I'll fear man.
I send little T. again on Tuesday. On Wednesday. On Thursday. And since then, each day with a little more courage that I possessed in the beginning.
Courage, bolstered by the fear of the Lord, can be
infectious too, you know.
Can make you flip switches in every room of the house so those on the outside can see the light. . . .
Can make you flip switches in every room of the house so those on the outside can see the light. . . .
Joy David
Praise the Lord!
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Psalm 112
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