Fear
Isaiah 43:1-15

A frightful event happened on a bus full of passengers. I was sitting near the center aisle reading a newspaper. Some commotion started up behind me. Before I could turn my head, something swung around and knocked the newspaper out of my hands. What was it? Hands grasping a revolver. I turned to see two men wrestling furiously. One wore a green military uniform, the other was dressed in civilian clothes. They were struggling with all their might for control of the pistol. The bus driver stopped the bus on the highway, opened the door and jumped out. Amongst screaming pandemonium everybody else did the same.

In order to help out I stayed on the bus. The military man was older, a bit rotund and out of shape; the other man was young and strong. The younger man was trying to aim the weapon at his adversary, and the army guy was doing his best to stop it. He banged the wrist of the young assailant on the back of the bus seats and metal poles in an attempt to loosen the young guy's grip. I grabbed the younger one in order to pull him away. Things happened quickly. The two men spun in a half circle and I was suddenly looking down the barrel of a gun. It was aimed at my face, and somebody might pull the trigger. In a split second my valor vaporized. Panic hit. A raw fear seized my soul. I turned, and ran for the exit.

Fortunately, the military man dislodged the pistol and soon got the upper hand. The young man surrendered and was handcuffed. He turned out to be a psychopath with a history of violence, recently released from prison. I'll never forget the fear I suffered that morning. Fortunately, that dread of death was only momentary.

What is much more debilitating is chronic fear, a fear that clings to a person persistently; its presence is felt for long periods. Some fears are short; others are long. We all suffer from fear at different times in our lives. The fear of being laid off from work can be an anxiety-ridden reality. The fear of death hits all of us at different times. How about the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, and the fear of ridicule? Those affect everybody to a certain extent.

On the other hand, some fear is healthy. We were taught in seminary that a good dose of nerves before preaching can help a sermon delivery. When my professor first said that I doubted the truth of it. Speaking before others twisted my stomach into knots. Now I know he was correct. I prefer some butterflies to get me going.

Furthermore, what parent wants his toddler to climb up a ladder and play on the roof? We'd prefer for them to have a healthy fright of heights. Nonetheless, the biggest problem for most of us is not lack of fear, rather, it is an exaggerated and inordinate measure of fear. Spiders and snakes, piranha fish and tarantulas, germs and disease; some of us know people who become hysterical at the sight of certain insects. They have nightmares of reptiles causing catastrophe.

Making a mountain out of a molehill is called catastrophizing. Some people turn minor problems into catastrophes. Writing a bounced check is illegal and embarrassing. Receiving a warning from your boss after you arrive late to work a couple times is a concern. Getting a parking ticket is frustrating. However, the person who catastrophizes problems tends to take a minor incident like this and regard it as terrible, awful, and dreadfully serious. He goes on thinking that he is facing something so dangerous and so shattering that it is no longer just a sad thing that is happening to him, but a truly tragic, life-and-death issue.

Though it sounds crazy, the fear of fear may be the worst fear. You and I can be afraid of almost any physical danger. You can be afraid of going up into a tall building because some murderous pilot might fly his airplane into it. But what do you call it when people start to dread the feeling of fear itself coming upon them? Being afraid of becoming afraid is actually pretty common, and quite devastating. As a consequence people suffer severe anxiety attacks. The fear of becoming afraid is pure agony for these people.

Our Old Testament lesson from Isaiah 43 speaks to the problem of fear. The historical context seems to be the pain and sorrow of the Hebrews' Babylonian exile. The people are homesick. For seventy years they have worked as servants and slaves in a strange country. Yet God tells Isaiah to prophesy encouragement. Isaiah foretells that the Persian King Cyrus would soon come and deliver them from their bondage and bring them back to their land. A suffering Messiah would come to save them from their sins.

Isaiah 43:1 says, "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior Fear not, for I am with you" (vv. 1-5).

Every Christian could be greatly blessed by taking to heart the meaning of these verses. The strong encouragement of this passage is anchored in the great truths of creation and redemption. Isaiah reminds them that it is God who created and formed them. Creation, it turns out, is not an event long ago, but a continuous activity of God. Why do unbelievers hate the notion that God created the world and everything in it? Because it means that God also sustains His creation and sovereignly controls it. God is responsible for all that happens in human life. For Christians, creation is therefore a strong reason to be hopeful. Isaiah also speaks of redemption: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you." In Adam, the Old Testament Church had fallen into sin, yet God redeemed them. God had created them and saved them. Aren't those truths sufficiently strong to banish fear? Babylon was certainly a terrible reality, but the greater reality by far was the LORD's absolute sovereignty.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned" (v. 2). What does that mean, "to pass through the waters and walk through the fire"? Isaiah could be referring to the Exodus. Israel passed safely through the waters of the Red Sea, those same waters receded to drown the pursuing Egyptians. They followed a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This passage hints at the Exodus. Moreover, the metaphor of passing through water and fire Isaiah used to indicate how the Church would return to Judea, the Promised Land. The Israelites would face dangers: trials of water, and trials of fire. God created them, redeemed them and promised to restore them to their land, but it would not be easy. Hardship would dog them on their path. That is a timeless message: God does not promise to remove His people from a world of floods and diseases, of trials and tribulations. What He does promise is that when Israel passes through these things, He will walk beside her.

Is there a lesson here we can apply? Yes. God has created you, formed you, and has redeemed you. Therefore everything that comes into your life is part of God's plan and is ultimately intended for your good. These are facts. Hence, there is no excuse for overdone fear and anxiety. It is your duty to lean upon God and trust in Him. He knows what He is doing. Though God gives you no assurance that your path will be free of difficulties, it is His intention to bring you blessing through whatever affliction you may have to endure; and it is His intention to use it as a means of molding you into the sort of person He desires you to be.

When you have to pass through tribulation, the Bible says that you are not alone. God will be with you as you pass through the waters. He will not suffer you to be tested beyond what you are able to bear. The rivers will not overwhelm you, nor the fires consume you.

It was a blessing for my wife and me to be able to pray on several occasions as her labor grew intense. We had a midwife who was a devout Christian. When Eve ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, God cursed the woman saying: "In pain you shall bring forth children" (Genesis 3:16). A case can be made that having a baby is the most painful thing a human being can experience. That pain was etched on my wife's face this last Thursday evening. As the contractions became unbearable we repeatedly asked God for strength and mercy. Once Beth started pushing, the baby came out very quickly. How did the Lord allow my wife to pass through the trial of childbirth? Did He remove the labor? No. The pain was still excruciating. At least several hours were very unpleasant. But we felt God's presence with us. Jesus explains what happened next: "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world" (John 16:21). That sums up well childbirth.

Isaiah's message on the first Sunday after Easter is, "Fear not!" King Cyrus of the Persians was about to conquer the Babylonians and he would allow the people to return to the Promised Land. Fear not. Go. You will meet perils and dark clouds. Don't expect to remain in your comfort zone. You will pass through water and fire but it will be worth it in the end. Risk-taking is thus part of the Christian life. To overcome fear, you must take certain risks. Part of life is overcoming by God's grace those trials of water and fire. What happens to people who do not take risks? They live in a constant state of anxiety mixed with depression.

Failure to take risks can lead to sad consequences. A woman wanted to homeschool her child but lost her nerve because she thought her educational background was rather limited. A very intelligent man refused to ever teach a class because he was terrified of speaking before others. A woman could never bring herself to invite guests into her home because she couldn't host them perfectly. A man declined to start a new business because he was afraid that it might fail. A wife failed to confront her abusive husband. A teenager wrapped himself up in a social cocoon during his high school years and rarely talked to others because he was afraid of ridicule. Another man refused to travel because he was afraid of flying. A young woman studying a foreign language could barely speak it because she was afraid to make a mistake. Fear can paralyze us in so many different ways. Taking risks is much better.

What about catastrophizing? Part of the solution to that is to question whether or not the thing you are facing is in fact a catastrophe. If you can persuade yourself that the issue you are dealing with is not really all that serious, then you are bound to calm down. But if you continue to tell yourself that you are facing a life-and-death issue, you will remain terribly disturbed.

What about anxiety spells? those times when you are afraid of fear? Of course, prayer always helps. And, according to what people have told me and what I have read in books, anxiety attacks can be overcome by timing yourself. With a wristwatch, time how long the anxiety attack lasts. Usually they are pretty short. That fact may help you to have an even shorter spell next time, or not one at all. Another strategy for attacks of anxiety is breathing exercises. This can be learned and practiced at the appropriate time.

On this First Sunday after Easter the Church calls you to courage. It is based on God who is your Creator and Redeemer. As you walk in the fear of the LORD earthly fears shrink. Through Isaiah, God tells you: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you you are mine; Fear not, for I am with you." Jesus tells us the same thing: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (John 12:32). The apostle Paul stated, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Come now to the holy table of the Lord. Come in reverence and godly fear. To worship and fear the dreadful majesty of God Almighty is the foundation for Christian courage. The world is a battlefield, and it takes wit, bravery, and a strong will to do the work that God has set before you. Don't let fear freeze you. You have a calling to fulfill. God has put you here for a purpose, and He promises you: "Fear not, for I am with you." Indeed, Christ announced it also: "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

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