3 Questions That Will Put Your Fear into Perspective

In times of great trouble and social upheaval, it’s value desirous about Jesus asleep within the boat. The storm is surging; the vessel is filling with water; the disciples are scurrying. The significance of this event is underscored by the proven fact that it receives detailed treatment in all 4 Gospels. For our purposes here, we’ll turn to Mark 4:36-41: 

^“And leaving the group, they took him with them within the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a fantastic windstorm arose, and the waves ^owere breaking into the boat, in order that the boat was already filling. But he was in the strict, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we’re perishing?’ And he awoke and ^prebuked the wind and said to the ocean, ‘Peace! Be still!”’ And the wind ceased, and ^qthere was a fantastic calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you ^rso afraid? Have you continue to no faith?’ And they were crammed with great fear and said to 1 one other, ^s“Who then is that this, that even ^tthe wind and the ocean obey him?”

This is a historic scene, not some vivid illustration, but let’s pause for a moment to acknowledge its fittingness as a metaphor for our cultural moment. As a nation, we’re facing massive divisions, and we’re heading into what’s shaping as much as be one of the contentious elections this country has seen. Though not facing brutal persecution, our North American churches are increasingly embattled and enduring opposition each from inside and from without. The storm is raging, one might say, the boat filling with water.

A high degree of uncertainty hovers over America today, and this general sense of unease cuts across partisan lines. According to Pew Research Center,  “64% of Republicans and 56% of Democrats – say they’re fearful in regards to the state of the country.” Issues encompassing all the things from inflation to immigration loom large, in addition to escalating global tensions. For many, the recent Trump assassination attempt has only deepened the anxiety. 

Before drawing some modest conclusions, I’d wish to offer up three questions for meditation. My hope is that we do turn these over in our hearts and minds for the following few minutes, especially as we take a look at the news or navigate the most recent tensions and battles in our local congregations: 

1. “Is Jesus nervous in regards to the state of our world?” To make sure, Jesus cares for every of us, however the course of world events definitely doesn’t worry him. Worrying about inflation, immigration, and elections—these are marks of our human condition. We are finite creatures, but the trendy world has often concealed this basic truth from us. Since 2020, nevertheless, we have now had an prolonged opportunity to acknowledge our fragility and our dependency. In these times, we must dwell on the proven fact that Christ has triumphed over the grave, ascended his throne, and is preparing to return. He cares about our world, but he’s not nervous about it. 
2. “Is he surprised?” Following on the heels of the last query, we will clearly state that the various tragic and indeed heinous events that fill our fallen world aren’t any surprise to our Lord. When we confront the severity of our fallen condition, the query often arises: Why doesn’t God intervene? The answer is that he has, once and for all, at Calvary. Though we do suffer this eternity, we recognize that our suffering doesn’t have the last word. 
3. “Are those of us who recognize our Great Shepherd in any real danger?” With this query, we encounter a stark challenge. Dallas Willard once identified that the fear of death is a terrible scourge amongst believers. He was indicating that one in every of the marks of a mature faith is a notable absence of the paralyzing fear of death. To make sure, this doesn’t mean that we’re reckless or that we count our lives as worthless. What it does mean, nevertheless, is that we understand on a heart level that no ultimate harm can befall us if we belong to Christ; our ultimate well-being is secure, irrespective of what happens to us in our earthly lives. If this sounds too mystical, it’s value pressing into the very practical implications of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Consider John 8:51: “Amen, amen, I say to you, if anyone follows my word, he won’t ever see death.” 

If Christ is who he says he’s, the reply to every of those questions is not any. To make sure, this isn’t a recipe for complacency or quietism, neither is it a type of mystical denial. Instead, it’s an invite to the fundamental Christian faith. When the disciples rouse their teacher from his slumber and plead with him, “Teacher, do you not care that we’re perishing?” his response is stark: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Tellingly, these words arrive after he has calmed the storm. The implication is evident: The disciple’s fear of the raging storm is misplaced.

The passage doesn’t close within the absence of fear, though: “And they were crammed with great fear and said to 1 one other, ‘Who then is that this, that even the wind and the ocean obey him?’” This, nevertheless, is fear of a distinct caliber, for it is dependent upon the popularity that Jesus is the one in charge. No raging storm can overcome his command. We could also be tempted to imagine that politicians, world leaders, and other men and ladies of influence play a decisive role in world events. It’s a pronounced temptation, however it’s clearly improper. If we imagine that the state of the world is dependent upon our own ingenuity and ambitions, we are going to find abundant occasions for fear and despair. 

May I humbly suggest to you that what is required today is just not a greater fear of the manifold challenges facing us—eroding social fabric, rising crime and violence, aggressive sexual ideology, division in our churches, wars, and rumors of wars—but as a substitute the fear of the Lord. After all, he’s the one in charge—not us.

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Kenneth Boa equips people to like well (being), learn well (knowing), and live well (doing). He is a author, teacher, speaker, and mentor and is the President of Reflections Ministries, The Museum of Created Beauty, and Trinity House Publishers.

Publications by Dr. Boa include Conformed to His Image, Handbook to Prayer, Handbook to Leadership, Faith Has Its Reasons, Rewriting Your Broken Story, Life within the Presence of God, Leverage, and Recalibrate Your Life.

Dr. Boa holds a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in England. 

Cameron McAllister is the director of content for Reflections Ministries. He can also be one half of the Thinking Out Loud Podcast, a weekly podcast about current events and Christian hope. He is the co-author (together with his father, Stuart) of Faith That Lasts: A Father and Son On Cultivating Lifelong Belief. He lives within the Atlanta area together with his wife and two kids.