Do You Worry About the Future – a Lot? DON’T!!!

I think this is an understated question for most of us, what with rising prices in food and gas combined with the current political season in the U.S., natural disasters around the world, and the clamoring “fearmongers” (especially among the religious ranks) and what not!! YES, we all worry A LOT more than we should! All of this despite the statistics we hear stating that most of the things we fear don’t ever come true, and the evidence of this fact in our own lives (REALLY think about how true it is that most of what we fear does not come true!!!)

I believe we FEAR because most of us aren’t aware of, or trusting deeply in, the Love of the Triune God! I believe that the opposite of love is not hate but fear! And, the opposite of fear is Love. 1 John 4:16-19! In fact, we are assured in the scriptures that perfect love (the Triune God) casts out fear. This tells us a whole lot, if we are willing to listen!

This dynamic is certainly the story of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Trusting the Triune God Who loved them brought them security and peace. Failing to Trust this unfailing Love brought fear and hiding. Anger and hate soon FOLLOWED fear! They had babies in this fear-filled atmosphere, and that explains the fears you and I are now immersed in from head to toe! Romans 3:23, 5:12.

Since fear means not being assured, then love must mean being assured, right? But being assured in what, and what kind of assurance and love? Well, seriously, are we any more assured and secure than when we know we are loved unconditionally by others, and are able to share that kind of love toward others ourselves? C’mon now, who ever REALLY feared Jesus, or even Mother Teresa, besides a few jealous folk whose motives and actions looked bad by comparison?!

Sounds funny to say, but would we REALLY fear the decisions, presence, race, color, creed, or religion of others if we KNEW they shared in REAL SELF-GIVING LOVE for us and others? If we were “feelin’ the love”, as they say?” Isn’t this where party lines are drawn? From one side you are personally “feelin’ the love” more than from the other side?  

On another level, it’s not that the other side isn’t necessarily loving, but you can’t “feel the love” because you haven’t been loving yourself, and you project your unloving nature on them because of your own guilt, shame and self-centeredness!  You are tainted and you are tainting everything else! AAAAaaaagggghhhh!!!

This is the kind of complexity and relational problems that FEAR brings!! Isn’t that DEEP? 

Actually, to tell you the Truth, this is the kind of fear and negativity that comes from NOT trusting God for Who He REALLY is: A Good and Relational God Who has included and Adopted you and all of us in His Relationship as Father, Son and Spirit in Jesus Christ!! Ephesians 1:3-6. 

I can’t help but think on this issue at the present time because I am in a graduate course on church history at Grace Communion Seminary, and it is blowing my mind in all kinds of good ways!!! My teacher in this particular course is Jonathan Stepp. You can find out more about him here. I am learning about the early Church fathers and mother’s and how they viewed the world through the Gospel. I noticed that these days we appear to be ”living” but are always afraid of dying. Those early believers were literally dying and being martyred, because they were afraid of not “living” (Knowing who they REALLY are in Jesus)!

I notice that I have been taught by religion to fear just about anything and everything and that things are getting “worse and worse” in the “Devil’s world”. Athanasius and gang are embarrassing all of us by saying things (1700 years ago!!) like:

“The substance of what we have said so far may be summarized as follows. Since the Savior came to dwell among us, not only does idolatry no longer increase, but it is getting less and gradually ceasing to be. Similarly, not only does the wisdom of the Greeks no longer make any progress, but that which used to be is disappearing. And demons, so far from continuing to impose on people by their deceits and oracle-givings and sorceries, are routed by the sign of the cross if they so much as try. On the other hand, while idolatry and everything else that opposes the faith of Christ is daily dwindling and weaking and falling, see, the Savior’s teaching is increasing everywhere! Worship, then, the Savior “Who is above all” and mighty, even God the Word, and condemn those who are being defeated and made to disappear by Him.” – St. Athanasius, “On the Incarnation”, Chapter 8, (55). 

Good Gravy!!! That’s the Good News of Jesus that Triune God is talkin’ bout!!! That’s what this godlikesyou blog is all about trying to help you see and experience! Take a look around the site if you haven’t! And, YES, for those of you who need it, there is plenty of talk about Jesus and the scriptures in most articles to back up the Good News biblically!  

Yes, you have always been loved and liked by this Triune God, and you always will be!!! The quicker you can share in believing it, the better off you will be! Isn’t even a little of the wrong kind of fear and worry a little too much?! Yes, and our too-soon-graying-hair, headaches, and saggy-puffy-eyeballs at 28 years old, prove it! 

Besides the encouragement from Jesus in Matt 6:25-34. the BEST article I have ever read about the subject of fear (so far in my young life) is RIGHT HERE!