FEAR – By Pastor Iraida
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” I John 4:16-19
The Centurion. The Disciples. Mary Magdalene. What do they have in common? They were all taken aback by fear. Fear that comes from awe, abandonment and uncertainty, loss and grief. The difference lies in each of their responses to fear.
The Centurion at the foot of the cross experienced something out of this world. While fulfilling his job one extraordinary afternoon, the earth shook, the sky darkened, and thunder rolled. He remained paralyzed as the man nailed to the cross in between two others made eye contact with him as if freeing himself from those nails, saying, “I love you, too!” to the point where, in his stillness, the Centurion had no other choice but to acknowledge that Jesus was the son of God.
The Disciples, who walked with Jesus for three years and got to know his likes and dislikes, were nowhere to be found while Jesus was being tried, condemned, and crucified. And now they find themselves hiding in a room reminiscing about the events that had occurred and inexplicably transformed their lives. They feared being recognized outside those four walls and being condemned (judged) by the political and religious leaders of the day. Mary Magdalene, healed by Jesus and who followed Jesus everywhere; a grateful heart could not keep her from her Master! She remained at the foot of the cross and followed Jesus to the tomb she later found empty.
With a heart now filled with fear of losing her Master forever and filled with grief from such irreparable loss, she whines and negotiates with the angels and later with the Gardener (who turns out to be Jesus). At the sound of her name from Jesus’s voice, she runs to announce the Good News of life as instructed by Jesus!
Fear can paralyze us (Centurion), take us to a hiding place in our lives (Disciples), or make us act on it (Mary Magdalene) with a fearful fear of the outcome. Our sudden courage will enable us to keep going until the problem or situation is solved or clarified. In whatever state we find ourselves, we must understand that God’s love for us is so grand that it takes us through the process in the company of Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Many times, we remain paralyzed for a very long time after experiencing tragic events, and we feel forced to hide out and keep the pain to ourselves. And then somehow, someway, or even maybe through someone, we gather the strength we so desperately seek and yearn in our stillness to get a grip and take the problem right from the source and wrestle with it until we feel that peace that only comes from victory over death.
Kathy Freston wrote a book titled, “Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness.” The author takes us through healing in a holistic way of mind, body, and spirit. You will be surprised at how much our physical health depends on our holistic well-being. Your body’s health heightens as you feed your mind positively and feed your spirit with the bread of life and living water. You will experience a dramatic transformation as you learn to work with tragedy, pain, loss, and crises.
In Chapter 10, “When You Are Faced with Crisis: Becoming Your Own Healer,” Freston describes fear through an acronym (and I quote):
“Anytime you find yourself gripped with fear, remember:
F: Focus on your breathing.
E: Explore all the possibilities and make peace with them.
A: Ask for spiritual assistance.
R: Resolve to take all pertinent steps.”
Stuff happens. However, our attitude and approach determine whether we live in victory or defeat. Greater is Jesus, that abides in us than any other circumstance, problem, or suffering.
Jesus not only died so that we may see, feel, hear, and taste God’s love for us. He rose from the dead so that we may believe it and know that we are never alone, live abundantly, and live forevermore until He comes again! Victory is ours because He defeated our death and struggles. “Because He lives, we CAN face tomorrow, all fear IS gone, He holds the future, and life is worth living just because He lives”! (Hymn by Gloria and William J. Gaither, 1971).
In the love of the Risen Christ and in the awareness of his love for humanity,
Pastor Iraida