A Personal Note from Pastor's Pen - Fear

Fear makes a terrific short-term motivator. If a vehicle is speeding toward you and the driver is not looking forward or a big branch snaps just behind you in a forest, the release of adrenaline that happens before you even know it might just save your life. Fear is designed to keep us safe. And most of the time, it does a pretty great job at this. But sadly, fear sometimes becomes a way of life for many people, motivating their decisions in ways they don’t even realize. Some say yes to things they know are not right. Why? Because of the fear of rejection. Others guard themselves from others, never take the invitation to hang out, nor try to make a friend. Why? Because of social anxiety. Some don’t speak up in the meeting or speak about the things on their heart to people they care about. Why? Because of the fear of being shamed. What if I’m made to feel incompetent or unworthy? What if I’m seen through the lens of the worst parts of myself? One of the truths we find in scripture is that most of our fears find their roots from a wound. Absalom was a man who lived with many fears. Fears of rejection, fears of inadequacy, and fears of  failure. These fears controlled him. What he did, what he said, and what he believed; were reactions to his fears. You can read much of his life and the fears that controlled him in II Samuel chapters 13-15. Here are some things that I wish that Absalom could have known to break through his reactions of fear. First, I wish he would have known who he was in Christ. So often, fears make us into someone we are not. When you are confident of who you are to Jesus, it helps to release the fears of  comparisons. Next, I wish he could have found his people in Christ. He was always trying to impress people who simply wanted to use him. Finding people in Christ who love you for who you are, is a wonderful way to let go of those fears. Then next, I wish he could have done just that, let go of the past. His life was controlled by the upsets, the pains, and the anger from his past. He was a slave to these things. He didn't have to be. Just like we find forgiveness in Christ, we should offer      forgiveness in Christ. You see, everything we need and every fear is  abated, in Christ. Hasn’t fear controlled you too long?      

-Pastor Tommy