“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” (Pr 29:25 AV)
The fear of man can be one of two things. It could be the fear we have towards others, or it could be the fear that is inherent to being human. Fear is an emotion given by God. It is meant to keep us safe from rational and manageable threats. Fear that is irrational or fear of things that cannot be avoided is not permitted. The answer to both fears is trust in the LORD. We do not naively think that safety means bliss. The king wrote this proverb. There were wars, there were threats to his life, there were administration challenges, and there were enemies within the gate. As the king reigned, there were plenty of potential threats. As I age and come to terms with life as a hard challenge, I am beginning to realize the safety that God often provides is more emotional and spiritual than it is physical. Endurance through tribulation is what we seek. Not the absence of it.
The LORD has really met with me recently. Many changes of life. As a friend and I often joke, getting older is not for the faint of heart! My wife is sick with cancer. She has been stable for the last four years. The expectation was that she would be stable for several more years. Typically, those with her type of cancer, grade, and metastasis can live decades with this cancer. So, a change is her cancer was not expected. Longevity, it seems, is not in the LORD’s plan. A recent PET scan shows disease progression. Today is the day we meet with our oncologist. She has one of the worlds foremost experts in this area. No wonder the LORD moved us from one state to the next. He knew she would need the best. To say that fear was a problem would be a tremendous understatement. To say that fear gripped my soul would not be an exaggeration. Fear is before and behind. It surrounds the mind. It is everywhere you look. There is no escape. Fear of the future is not something we had planned on.
Solomon knew this. Fear is captivating. Fear is immobilizing. Fear is a torment. We don’t have to live that way. According to our sage, the answer is not in trying to find an answer. The answer is not in our own strength. The answer has been and always will be, trust. We have the best healthcare in the world. We are going to a clinic and doctor that specializes in this disease. Yet, they cannot cure it. At least not yet. As we age, our bodies will fail. There is nothing anyone can do about that. As good as they are, there is one inevitability that we will all face. So, the LORD is our only hope. He is our trust. We cannot trust Him for immortality in this life. We cannot trust Him for a trial-free life. What we can trust Him for is His presence and strength as we navigate the troubles of life. He is there. He is always there. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Pr 3:5-6 AV) Note that Solomon says to trust with all your heart. You cannot trust with all your heart if you also fear.
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