'Don't be afraid.' How do you do that?

Do not be afraid.
Do not worry.
Do not be anxious.

Easier said than done, right?

Look at the world around you. Look at the wars. Look at the loneliness. Look at the brokenness. Look into your own heart.

And then we’re supposed to ‘just’ not be afraid? Seriously, Jesus?!

I find John’s perspective beautiful. He’s in prison, locked up — and it looked different from how we often imagine prisons today. He had every reason to be afraid, as the legal system wasn’t exactly working in his favor.

He references Luke 4, where we read the ‘mission statement’ of the Lord Jesus. There, you read about the freedom He brings to prisoners. John says: this prison is nothing to Him. So, no fear…, he says, as he grips the bars of the prison.

What a perspective.

What is your perspective?

My fear often comes because I look at my situation, at what’s happening in the world, from what I am capable of. What if I started looking at it from the perspective of Jesus and what He is capable of?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to oversimplify things, trivialize them, or reduce them to “just don’t be afraid.” The situation John was in literally cost him his ‘head.’ Yes, he was freed from prison, but in a very different way than people had hoped. How can you be in such a complex situation without fear?

It seems that having the right perspective makes all the difference.

Our text from Philippians points us to the key: prayer — being in conversation with the Almighty.

In all circumstances, asking Him for what you need.

Sharing your desires.
Thanking.
Praying.
Trusting that He holds everything in His hands.
Thinking about what is ‘true.’

Do you and I do this enough?

The promise is found in verse 7: the peace of the Prince of Peace Himself. Peace, which transcends understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

Peace is not the absence of evil.
Peace is the presence of Jesus.

Shalom!

Take the following questions with you to reflect on:

• Are you ever afraid?
• What do you do when that happens?
• Do you experience Jesus in those moments? How?
• What would you like to ask Jesus?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, sometimes I am afraid. It paralyzes me, pushes me into a corner, makes me feel small. But today, I want to lay my fear before You. Here it is …, it is too big for me, but You can handle it. Lord, my desire is …, will You intervene? I long for Your peace. Will You fill me with it? I wait for You. For You alone. Amen.”