Why are you so afraid?

My 401K lost 40% of its value, mortgage foreclosers are at an all time high, the unemployment rate is the highest its been in 30 years.  The media is doing nothing to calm the fears and if anything they are adding fuel to the fire to gain higher ratings.  Is there anything the President Elect can really do to stem the tide?  Are we getting a little worried yet?

What do you fear?  

As I was working on a lesson this week I was surfing the internet for phobia's. That's the fear of something and the list is a mile long.  Well not really that long, but the list is incredible.  Have you ever heard of the phobia, Arachibutyrophobia? This is the fear of peanut butter or it sticking to the roof of your mouth.  What is that?  How about Papaphobia?  This is a fear of the Pope.  Crazy!

But in all seriousness, the fear I think we have to deal with the most is losing control.  I know I do.  We try to tell ourselves we can handle a situation and in turn this becomes our fear.  Then we go into freak out mode and we try to tighten our control because we are scared.  Our behavior is controlled by our fear.

Here is an example.  Have you ever been burned when you tried to step out your comfort zone and the situation back fired?  Maybe you tried to do something you really love to do and you messed up big-time and ended up looking like fool.  It doesn't feel good and the next time the situation presents itself you don't venture out because of what might happen again.  You lose the ability to take risks and in turn you control things so you are not embarrassed again.  Our behavior is controlled by our fear.

There is an account about Jesus and his disciples in the Bible.  It is found in Mark 4:35-41.  In this story Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As they are making there way across the water a storm comes up and the disciples get really scared.  All the while Jesus is sleeping in the front of the boat.  Sleeping. All the guys on the boat think they are going to die.  Finally they wake up Jesus and say, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"  Jesus says to them, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  No must realize, the disciples have been with Jesus for awhile and have seen him heal people, drive out evil spirits, and say incredible things yet they still don't fully understand the extent of who He is.

The disciples actions were dictated by their fears.  They had seen the great things Jesus had done.  They knew He was the Son of God.  He was sleeping right there yet He was the last option.  Their faith was tested and so our faith is tested through situations we cannot control.  That is how our faith is strengthened. Although it is hard sometimes to overcome human nature and I am the guiltiest at times.  Just know this, Jesus can handle it.  

How's your faith?