I was watching a show the other day that follows a free diver, aptly named Ocean Ramsey, as she dives with sharks and promotes a different perspective on these animals. One of the marine biologists who commented on her advocacy said that Ramsey jumped into the ocean and asked a question—why should I be afraid? This was one of those gut-punching questions for me, as I considered how often we run away or never jump into places that we have been taught are scary because we have never asked this same question. Now, whether or not you agree with Ocean Ramsey’s quest to change the world’s opinion on sharks, I would ask you to look at your life and consider asking the same question about some of the other areas you might shy away from because it seems dangerous, stupid or downright crazy.
Something about fear is really important to God as He talks about it a lot in the Bible. He has not designed us for fear, but He knew we would experience it. Sometimes fear displays as anger, control or anxiety. But often we don’t stop to ask the question—why should I be afraid?
Often in Biblical stories, people push into circumstances that seem incredibly scary, something they maybe shouldn’t do if they are being “reasonable.” But they are operating in the identity God has given them and they are walking the calling He has given them, so the question is answered. There is no reason to walk in fear because they are made for this, and they have a God who is strength in weakness. David and Goliath, Gideon and the Midianites, Esther and Haman, Paul and the Romans—none of these people ended up running from fear but pushed directly into it. I know that some took some convincing, but ultimately they walked in places that they naturally should have been afraid, recognizing that supernaturally and spiritually they were going to be okay.
Today, I have people in my life who have followed Jesus into scary places because He has invited them too, and He is freeing them from fear as they do. That’s the crazy thing about freedom—often He asks us to walk right into the thing we are afraid of in order to be free. Freedom doesn’t feel very good when it’s happening, but the experience after is worth it. My friend Amy has given God her home and income, going wherever He sends her as a nomad for years with no “job” other than the work He brings for her. My friends Joyce and Melissa have persevered in Haiti, facing the horrors of gang warfare while raising kids and teaching them to live in the midst of what could be incredible fear every day. I have other friends who amaze me as they continue to push into their own pain and trauma to serve and honor others who are hurting. And those who face so many fears every day but continue to ask Jesus to free them from those and walk forward.
So often my arguments with God go like this—no, you can’t possibly want me to do that. Don’t you understand how the world works? (Yes, amazing irony here.) I can’t do that. I’m going to be embarrassed and make a fool of myself if I follow you there. I don’t want to people to get the wrong idea. None of them are good arguments, nor am I asking the right question.
I want to ask God for the courage to ask a different question—why should I be afraid? Because I believe His answer is always—you don’t have to be! We might end up being embarrassed or making a mistake, but God’s goal is not to maintain our image. He is drawing us deeper in communion and relationship with Him.
He is also connecting us to others, which requires us to be vulnerable and take risks. So often people talk of not being alone as if it is always about marriage, but the body of Christ is designed to function as a connected community. Not a perfect one, but when we keep separating and isolating because people have made mistakes or hurt us, we aren’t functioning in the way God designed us to.
So, what place in your life is He inviting you into deeper that you are scared or anxious about? Why should you be afraid? He is not in the fear, but rather in the courage to take the leap and trust Him.
For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7