The Fear Killer-How to Dismantle Fear in your Daily Living, Dreaming and Doing.

So, I’m thinking this morning of all the fear-mongering going on in our nation/world at this time, i.e. political, economic, geo-political/global, etc. And, I’m thinking I know something about fear. Hey, I just co-wrote a book on fear. I’m the expert. Right? Then, I read this little sobering story. In May of 2001 missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, a militant, Muslim group who controls much of the Philippine jungles. The Burnham’s were held for 376 days. In fact, on June 7^th, 2002 Martin was killed, a casualty of a battle between the Aby Sayyaf and the Philippine military who were attempting to rescue the Burnham’s.

Gracia wrote of this entire, horrific episode in a book entitled, In the Presence of My Enemies. In an interview that I was reading in Revive magazine (Vol. 40, Issue 2), Gracia was asked this specific question about fear – ‘What would you tell someone today who is facing a frightening situation? What principles should guide them?’ Remember, this is woman who confronted fear and death face to face not just once, but for 376 grueling days in a row. This is a woman who witnessed the tragic and brutal death of her husband. Here was her answer: ‘Keep your eyes on Jesus. Read all the Scriptures on fear. You can choose to not be fearful; that choice is based upon God and His faithfulness. Don’t look at your circumstances; look at God. If the mountain you’ve got to climb is right in front of you, turn around and look at how big God is in comparison to the mountain.’

After I read this question and answer I decided that I need to learn more about the nature of fear and, more importantly, I need to learn more about the God who overcomes our fears. Who is this God who can sustain a mother during a year-long separation from her children? Who is this God who can calm the fears of a grieving wife who was an eyewitness to the savage death of her husband? Who is this God who can sustain a defenseless woman in the face of the constant threat of death, disease, rape, torture, and hardship?

This is the God I want to know. I don’t want to know the America God who makes my life comfortable. I want to know the God of comfort who can comfort me and sustain me even when the most dreaded fears of life come my way. This is the God who is bigger than any fear I may have. This is the God I need? What about you?