If Fear Is Not a Factor

Good Tuesday morning to you and yours! This morning, the question comes to me, what would I write if fear is not a factor? The circumstance of this or that can be set aside because it is based in fear. Some weights fall away, they bear no mention in my testimony without their dread ballast. Boldness comes to the fore, ready to point the way with faith at the helm. How does faith find its way?

We tend to guide much of our living based on fear avoidance. What might this life produce if fear is factored out by faith instead of being a set of bumpers knocking us back and forth? Looking to God, we find a better direction. We read and hold His promises. Adam felt the first fear after eating the forbidden fruit. He was afraid and then was driven from the garden. Why did God need to force Adam and Eve out? Because fear is a terrible guide of course. Adam was now afraid to stay with God, and also afraid to go away. Faith conquers fear and bids the explorer see what is over the next hill, believing that Jesus has promised to be with us always.

Fear tends to be based on what we know and see; faith is the evidence of things not seen. Fear seems to be here and now; faith appears distant like the promise of heaven. However, the power in this world tells lies, and he tells a lot of lies. Jesus sent His Holy Spirit into us. How could anyone be closer than that? Our adversary would have us locked in and locked down in fear. Faith tells of a constant companion who says often, "Fear not!" Fear is alone and fears all things. Faith walks with God and welcomes all. Fear is contagious; faith is shared. A contagion? Yes, fear spreads like a disease while faith is given away like a precious gift. Faith is the better path, but we cling to our fears.

Fear must be forced out, like Adam from the garden. Faith must be learned from the Teacher, and grown by the Great Gardener. Why the difficulty? We are fallen. One does not fall out of a deep hole, but must climb a steep ladder. Faith is planted as the smallest of seeds, often surrounded by the slobbering, growling beasts of fear. The tiny seed must be cracked open, the plant protected by the Gardener, and watered by His Word. A respectable tree of faith does not come easily, but strangely to us, it grows best when tried under affliction. We would have our gardens peaceful and quiet, but there the tree of faith grows little and is weak in the testing.

It is interesting that my worst fears came after I declared my faith in God. It is like in declaring for one side, I came under a declaration of war with the other. Well, yeah... it's not that hard to figure out, is it? Even a dumb writer can make the connection eventually!

God bless and keep you in faith today,
Bucky