Just the other night, several of the guys from our gospel community discussed the story of Jesus calming the storm found in Mark chapter 4. We were considering the contrast of fear and faith. At one point, I shared rather candidly, “Guys, fear permeates my entire life.”
I know we’re called to walk by faith, but unfortunately, most often, I walk by fear. It’s fear that motivates me, pushes me forward, keeps me going. Fear leads me, redirects me, turns me around, speeds me up and slows me down. It is fear that both animates me and paralyzes me. Fear of what you think about me. Fear of failing. Fear of the unknown. Fear of not measuring up. Fear of the future. Whether in my head or on the news, there’s seem to always be another reason to fear. Fear within, fear without. Fear, fear, fear…
And then, someone will say something like, “You just have to face your fears.” Or, “it will all work out, don’t worry.” Or, they’ll try to somehow calm my fears by giving me a clever acronym, “You know… F.E.A.R. is just False Evidence Appearing Real.”
Meh.
Enter Psalm 142.
This psalm offers something none of the aforementioned platitudes do– a refuge. This side of eternity, we will find no shortage of things to fear. The Good News is that we have a place to go when we are afraid. The Good News is that we have someone to turn to in the midst of fear. The Good News is that nothing conquers fear like the perfect love of a perfect Savior.
So, today if you find yourself consumed by fear: be encouraged. Take heart. In the midst of fear, even in spite of fear, those who are in Christ Jesus have a refuge. He is our refuge!
“I cry to you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’”
Psalm 142:5
-- Chaz Holsomback