Quiet Courage

Fear takes many forms. Polls show that the most common causes of fear among Americans include snakes, insects, flying, deep water, heights, public speaking, job interviews, and talking with someone in authority.

Perhaps we could add a few phobias to the list. For people intimidated by the internet: emailophobia. For commuters: trafficjamophobia. For those who dread April fifteenth: IRSophobia. Meanwhile, editors wrestle with misprintophobia.

Fear isn't funny. Indeed, for some, it's a faith-testing daily burden. Some of our readers may not understand why this issue of The Lookout deals with fear and anxiety. After all, isn't the Bible clear? "Fear not." "Don't worry about tomorrow." "Be strong and courageous." "Perfect love casts out fear." "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." God's people aren't supposed to live in fear.

But as with other biblical commands, often the problem isn't knowing the right thing to do, but finding the strength to put it into practice—especially when our emotions pull us powerfully in the opposite direction. Believers face formidable challenges from temptations and fears of all kinds that threaten our souls in the battleground of the heart.

We must deploy spiritual weapons to defeat the sinful desires that war against our souls (2 Peter 2:11). "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does" (2 Corinthians 10:3). We can counteract fear with prayer and praise, faith and fellowship, godly advice from fellow believers who teach, encourage, and counsel us, and above all, the Word of God which equips us thoroughly for every good work.

Let's face it: many Christians battle with anxiety every day. (Maybe that's why the problem of fear is mentioned so frequently in Scripture.) If you don't struggle with panic attacks or anxiety disorders, be grateful; but read the articles in this week's issue anyway so you can better understand and assist your many brothers and sisters in Christ whose fears can seem overwhelming, paralyzing, and faith-stifling.

The Bible assures us that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. And just as fears come in many forms, so does courage.

A Christian chooses to obey God and do the right thing instead of the easy thing even when others do not understand. That's courage. A teenager refuses to go along with the crowd. A church planter pours his life into establishing a new congregation. A person living with chronic pain or a frustrating disability but seldom complains. A preacher dares to speak unpopular truth. A person who has been wronged summons the courage to forgive rather than wallow in bitterness. A college student risks rejection by standing up for Christ in her classroom and her dorm. An urban dweller dares to see the city as a mission frontier instead of a place to avoid. A missionary bravely ventures into an alien culture as an ambassador for the gospel. A child from a broken home courageously rises above his painful upbringing to become a productive adult. A struggler acknowledges a personal problem and bravely seeks help instead of denying the problem exists. Together, a congregation steps out in pursuit of a faith-stretching goal unbelievers would call impossible.

Such acts of quiet courage spring from the confidence that, as someone has said, "The fear of God is the one fear that removes all others." Whatever fears you face, you can "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).