Sister Mary Tricky declared: Fear is faith that it won’t work out.
It’s a too-true-for-comfort parody of Hebrews 11:1-2:
[Faith] is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. 2 Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.
Fear is like pesky, invasive weeds
In an autumn’s garden, fear can be as persistent as weeds growing through sidewalk cracks and asphalt. As powerful and diverse as the pesky weeds, fear that I can’t write a happy ending for everybody’s story, including my own, belies my conviction that God who is loving is on duty. (Psalm 121)
Fear or Faith?
Once upon a time, fear was jumping off a diving board uncertain the inner tube would hold. In an autumn’s garden, fear is
Frightening Experiences AGE Rehearses
When my faith in God . . . wobbles . . . when I worry that God isn’t awake, caring, capable; or, that He has left the building, I can get myself into trouble acting on these assumptions.
From my own issues to those our kids face; from what our grandchildren will encounter, to what our friends are going through, and to what the daily news reports: I am not in control of much.
Plus, I waste time and energy worrying about stuff that is not the problem – or my business.
I am in charge of my attitude, however, and my mouth – either of which can either derail my usefulness or empower it.
Pastor Tony Evans said faith is like WIFI; it is invisible and has the power to connect you to what you need.
Fear will never connect me to what I need. In fact, fear is faith that downloads from an unprotected network – importing spiritual malware.
Faith that is fear, often is based on unseen assumptions, rattles my composure and robs me of courage to pray, and do the next thing.
Dear Readers,
Here are two handy remedies, daily weeding tools I recommend:
- Do not freak over trouble, the Lord Jesus said. (My version of John 16:33)
- I’ve got your back, the Lord God declares. (My version of Isaiah 46:3-5)
May you feel God’s loving care and protection in such a way, your confidence in what is unseen is steady, and your hope in God is certain. (Brass in the Golden Years Can Still Shine)
This is the day the Lord has made – Rejoice!
P.S. it’s not a dress rehearsal!