I used to think fear was a sin. I would read “do not be afraid” in the Bible and take it as a command to keep— Thou Shalt NEVER HAVE ONE SINGLE FEAR.
So I assumed that when I was afraid or anxious, I was dishonoring or disobeying God. I believed it was wrong to worry. I thought God was frustrated when I couldn’t pull myself together, or annoyed when I was spiraling in what if’s.
And whenever I found myself in a panic, overwhelmed or stressed, my next emotion would be shame. I shouldn’t feel this way, I should have more courage and confidence.
And in shame, you know what we do. We pull away. We wall up and close off. We distance ourselves, even from Jesus, and try harder to control our unwieldy feelings and toughen up.
But, how does Jesus actually feel about our fears?
Today, we find Jesus and his disciples in a storm, swept up by the waves and the wind, churning with worry. Fearing the worst.
His friends are unfiltered, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus is unfiltered too, “Why are you so afraid?”
I used to read that question with an accusatory tone. As if Jesus was saying, come on guys, pull yourselves together, while rolling his eyes.
But what if this was not a question laced with condemnation, but an invitation into honest conversation.
When my little boys are scared, I love the opportunity to draw them in tight and wrap them in my arms until they feel calm again. I would hate for them to pull away or feel ashamed.
I imagine it’s no different with Jesus.
Fear is part of being human. Jesus is not surprised or dismayed when we are afraid.
I think Jesus loves to pull us close and gently ask, “Sarah, why are you so afraid? Let’s talk about it. I’m here and I want to hear. I’m not going anywhere.”
Fear is not a sin. It’s an opportunity for intimacy.
In this third week of our Lent series1, we encounter a curious Christ who deeply cares about our fears. We continue to let him ask us the soul-searching questions and initiate heart-to-heart conversation.
Today, would you bring to Jesus your anxieties, your worries, your what if’s, and your overwhelm. Could you hear tenderness in his voice instead of accusation? Could you trust his care and curiosity come with no condemnation?
Because, friends, our fears don’t turn Jesus away. Our fears draw Him near.2
May the non-anxious presence of Jesus calm you inside and out.
With peace,
Sarah
Jesus asks questions not to know answers but to know us.
Why Are You So Afraid?
Matthew 8:23-27
“Then Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!””
A PRACTICE
In a boat with Jesus
Imagine yourself in a boat with a turbulent storm brewing all around. The dark clouds and violent waves are the churning worries that make your heart race. It’s the middle of the night with anxious thoughts keeping you awake.
Now picture your stress responses. What are your typical ways of navigating these emotional storms? Do you see yourself putting your head down and paddling hard? Are you busy pitching buckets of water overboard with little relief? Are you hunkered down in the middle of the boat, paralyzed and withdrawn? Are you overcome with panic or running around dizzy with confusion? What is your classic coping strategy?
And now, imagine Jesus with you, gently inviting you out of your usual fear response and into a new way. How does he interact with you? What does he offer as an alternative for navigating these storms with him? How does he talk you through your very real fears? What is your response?
A Prayer
A Liturgy for One Overwhelmed by Turbulent Emotion
by Sandra McCracken and Douglas McKelvey
Christ, the anchor of my soul
hold me steady through every tempest.
I feel myself sinking in a
churning surge of emotion.
I am eager for relief,
but powerless to achieve
my own deliverance.
Would you still my storm-tossed spirit
with a word of peace?
Let this flood of anxiety
within and without me
recede at the sound of your voice.
…
You alone are my support and my hope.
And though these waves and breakers
break over me, you
will not let me sink.
Amen.
an excerpt from Every Moment Holy, Volume III
P.S.
Did you see that my Holy Week Guides are back? With a daily poem, practice, and prayer from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, consider these pages your companion for walking purposefully with Jesus as He walks toward the cross. Did you see they’re also on sale?? Through tomorrow, take 20% off using the Discount Code: SELAHLETTER at checkout.
If you missed the first couple weeks, our Jesus-questions were What are you seeking? and Do you want to be well?
Click here to read my poem Take Heart (a favorite!) based on Mark 6 when Jesus was walking on water during a storm but detoured to step inside the rocky boat with his friends.