Fear or Faith?

He said to his disciples,  “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40 NIV)

Notice in the scripture verse above that Jesus did not say, "Why are you DOUBTING?  Do you still have no faith?"  No, he asked why they were afraid.  Doubt is not the opposite of faith, fear is.

All who have faith find themselves in periods of doubt.  Faith is difficult.  We don't trust our spiritual senses the way we trust our physical senses, so doubt is natural.  I am convinced that God wants his faithful to have doubts.  It encourages us to seek truth.  And when our hearts are truly open to truth, we will find it.

Fear, on the other hand, destroys our faith.  Fear makes us blindly tighten our grip on tradition rather than true faith.  Fear keeps us from trying new things.  It keeps us from listening when God is trying to instruct our hearts in new ways of thinking.  Fear keeps us bound to the past, doomed to keep repeating the errors and sins inherent in man-made traditions and beliefs.

Faith keeps us alert to God's movements in our world and in our own lives.  Faith makes us more generous.  Faith frees us from our prejudices.  Faith inspires us to do more and be more and produce abundant, sweet fruit.  Fear feeds our greed and judgment.  Fear keeps us locked into shallow lives that are all about ourselves.   Fruit produced in fear falls scantily around our own feet.

What do you fear?  How can faith remove it?

Father,
When will we have faith enough to believe that you really are in charge and that no matter what, it is all going to be okay.  You have already won.  Give us more faith today so that we may do great things in your name.  Amen.

Joys:  Having grandchildren so that I can enjoy animated movies too!; book-reading weather;  Faith