Today I am drawn to thinking about fear. Fear is a powerful emotion. The Bible even says that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
Someone told me the other day that I was afraid of something. They even used the word terrified. I disagree. Without going into specifics, they were talking about something that I was hoping for, but also was something that might not happen. It bothered me that they believed I might be terrified, because such a powerful emotion might cause me to react in a way that was inappropriate. I trust God. If the thing that I desire happens, great. If not, I trust God has a reason. Terror might cause me to take things into my own hands. I know this because I fear has caused me to take things into my own hands before. When that happens, things don't usually work out to well.
Emotions are a powerful thing. They are a gift from God. They can sometimes protect us from doing some very stupid things, like driving too fast. Yet some people drive fast for a living. They just do it with special training and equipment. It is still risky, but their fear does not prevent them from doing it. However, sometimes emotions can keep us from doing good things. Perhaps someone has a fear of flying, so they won't get on a plane to go on an important trip or vacation. Their fear has become a paralyzing terror.
What is the purpose of fear? I think one important element of fear is to make us search for truth. I might be afraid of something. So I need to find out if my fear is rational and then respond appropriately. In this case, fear does become the beginning of knowledge. As long as I respond appropriately to my fear.
I can fear God, and that is a good thing if it drives me to know more of Him. But it is a bad thing if my fear drives me from Him. I think of having a fear of fire. Your fear is so strong that whenever you see a fire, you put it out, Having a fear of tire can be a healthy thing, protecting us from potential danger, but fire also has good uses. Cooking, heating, and lighting come to. But imagine being so afraid of fire that you put it out no matter the reason for the fire. Now your healthy fear has become a debilitating problem.
I think back to yesterday 's post. Let me share some lyrics again from the song.
I made You promises a thousand timesI tried to hear from HeavenBut I talked the whole timeI think I made You too smallI never feared You at all NoIf You touched my face would I know You?Looked into my eyes could I behold You?
When that writer states, "I never feared you at all" it seems to me that they are stating that they did not know God. Perhaps they did fear Him, but not in a healthy way that would drive them to know Him. God spoke to them, but they could not hear because they were talking the whole time. Maybe they were terrified of what He would say or what they would find out. "Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?"
But there is one thing about fear that is important to understand, fear does not change the truth. To be so afraid that one does nothing does not change who God is. Jesus said these terrifying words, "And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:23) Perhaps Jesus said He did not know them because they refused to know Him. So my prayer today is that I will have healthy fear, fear that will drive me to know God, not just say that I know Him. But also I pray that my fear will not drive me to unhealthy behavior. Amen.
