By Grace Through Faith

What are you afraid of? What fears keep you up at night? What worries you most lately?

If I were to ask you these questions, what would you say? Do you find yourself being worried or fearful lately?

Recently, I have notice fear creeping in more and more into my daily thoughts. There are some days where the fear can be so overwhelming, that I am just wanting to shut my mind off.

I noticed that I should take some time to reflect and realize what my fears were and where they were coming from. I realized my main fear was the fear of man, which most of us probably experience. Lately, I have been afraid of disappointing people. Afraid of making a mistake or afraid of what others would think if x, y, and z happened.

As I continued to reflect, I noticed my pattern of thinking was more of me worrying about what I would do. I was worried about my actions and the outcomes they would cause. My focus was all on me and the control or power that I lacked.

Fear and anxiety make us turn inward to focusing on ourselves and what we cannot control. When people ask us what we are fearful of, we might say fears we have had most of our life like fear of heights or fear of spiders. However, most of our daily fears can come from our current circumstances.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” – Genesis 3:6-10

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they hid. When God is looking for Adam, He asks Adam why he is hiding. Adam’s response is, “I was afraid.” Notice how fear was the response Adam has.

Adam saw he was naked. He saw that he was exposed and lacked protection, which immediately scared him. Adam was focused on his appearance and his surroundings. He forgot that His God was near to Him and forgot who God was in the moment, a loving and caring Father.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. – Genesis 3:21

We see that God met Adam and Eve’s disobedience with grace, by covering them with clothes. This is a significant part to me because it reminds me that God still wanted to provide and protect Adam and Eve, despite their actions. He still aimed to comfort them in their distress and shame.

Pride will again and again find ways to sneak into our lives, making us feel more important than others or allowing us to think God depends on us. We try to show off our appearances, our work, and our performance because we crave affirmation and validation. We have more ways of getting this instant gratification through the instant online world we live in. However, when we look at the life of Jesus, we are reminded of where our focus should truly lie.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. – John 6:38

Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, continued to point others to His Father. He didn’t want the fame. He didn’t want the praise. He wanted His loving Father to have all the attention and the glory that He deserved. Jesus knew eternity was more important than temporary power and success, so He continued His ministry to be a vessel for others to know the Father through Him.

If Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, humbly submitted to the authority of His Father, how much more should we? How much more should we turn our eyes back onto God? How much more should we reflect on the faithfulness of our God?

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. – Psalm 103:13-14

In this life, we have to continue to remind ourselves that it isn’t about us. We aren’t the main character in this story. We are specks of dust at the end of the day, and we each have a short time on this earth. We are made to glorify the Creator in where He has us and the work He gives us. The gifts and talents He gives us should always point back to glorifying Him and making His name known, not our own.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. – Colossians 3:23-24

I want to challenge you to reflect on who God is this week. Turn your eyes and focus back onto His character. Ask God for ways that you can make His great name known in our world.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. – Colossians 1:15-17

With love,

Claire