Faith in Jesus makes up the Mechanics of Life.
Peter said, “Master, if it’s really You, call me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. (Matthew 14:25-31)
FEAR has the power to sink one in defeat, depression and even despair! “But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water.” Fear is automatic unless one knows its root.
Satan told Adam and Eve that God had only given them a supporting role in the drama called “Life.” However, with a little maneuvering they could get top billing. With one bite they signed the contract. Immediately they felt stage fright so they hid. Responding to the Creator’s gracious call Adam responded, “When I heard You … I was frightened!” Since then, fear has been our default emotional setting and hiding our primary mechanism of defense.
Though fear is very complicated, its nucleus is simple. We’re insecure with the role we’ve embezzled. Playing God is simply out of our league! And yet, we stubbornly attempt to play the part while using anything and everything to cover up our insecurities and failures. Here’s Jean-Paul Sartre’s (an existential nihilist … now there’s a big gulp) assessment of our situation: “Man can count on no one but himself; he is alone, abandoned without help, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself.” King Solomon agreed: “That’s when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth. Smoke, that’s what it is. Nothing but smoke.”
So, fear presents this fork in the road: despair—“Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)—or, faith in Father. Though we energetically attempt to deny the choice, there’s no middle ground.
The Father is waiting! God called to the Man: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Peter cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand (Matthew 14:30-31). When the prodigal was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20-21).
Remember! “Fear is the glue that keeps you stuck. Faith is the solvent that sets you free” (Shannon L. Adler).
Check back next Friday as we continue our Faith on Fridays series.