Moving Beyond Fear

It is so easy to read an account in Scripture and think the people following Jesus, even the disciples, were a bunch of knuckleheads. Yet if we were to be honest and put ourselves in their shoes, we would likely have very similar reactions to them… even though we have the distinct advantage of knowing how the story turns out.Mark 4:35-41 is a prime example. This passage recounts the time when Jesus got in a boat with the disciples and began crossing the water. A storm arose in the night and the disciples panicked. Jesus was taking a nap as they were wondering if they would ever see their wives and children again.[bctt tweet="We often think Jesus' followers were knuckleheads. But we're not that different."]100% human and 100% divine means that Jesus had to be 100% happy for a few minutes of shut eye. Nonetheless, the disciples woke Jesus. Now, before we grow too critical, would you not be freaked out if you were on a rickety boat in the dark with a storm dumping water in your only form of shelter? I thought so. Me, too.As I taught this passage in Week One of Moving Beyond, it was Jesus’ interaction with the disciples once He awoke that caught my greatest attention. Of course, He did the “Jesus” thing. In what I imagine to be a matter of seconds, we see that Jesus did three things: 1. He awoke; 2. He rebuked (the wind and the sea); and 3. He said, “Peace. Be Still.” Cool, huh? The disciples were pretty stunned, too. But maybe what we need to focus on is not the miracle Jesus performed, but the two questions He then asked his nautical companions:

Why are you so afraid?Have you still no faith?

If we’re going to move beyond any fears that are holding us back, answering these questions with transparency and trust are critical. First, identify what specifically causes you to be afraid. Second, consider what Jesus was really asking the disciples. “Have you still no faith?” is spoken by the Son of God after the disciples have already seen the Lord heal a man with unclean spirits, heal Simon’s mother-in-law, cleanse a leper, heal a man’s withered hand, and watch a dove descend upon Jesus at the time of His baptism. Seriously, guys, what further proof do you need to trust the power of Jesus?It’s important to be honest and admit what your fears are, but it’s also essential that you stop and recollect how God has already proven His faithfulness to you in the past. The Lord has no desire for His daughter to be stuck in a cycle of fear. He wants you to know that He can be trusted and He is good. As you recount His faithfulness, allow it to wash over your fears.[bctt tweet="It’s vital that we stop to recollect how God has proven His faithfulness to us in the past."]May you also consider articulating your fear to other believers. Fear grows in isolation. When we verbalize our fears, we take away the enemy’s power to tell us we’re alone. The light shines through when we normalize the fear and then take courage to deal with it.Every one of us has a unique journey, but our God desires each of us to be free from the fear that keeps us from growing in our relationship with Him. May you bring your fears to Him, listen closely, and obey His next step so you can kick fear in the tail and move beyond.