Facts, Fear, and Faith

Yesterday morning I was thinking about how often I am prone to fear when I do not know all of the facts. Whether it has to do with the direction of things in the world or just thoughts of the future, without having a logical explanation of where things are going or what is happening, I can at times be given to fear. This brought to mind a recent post, Seeing is NOT Believing, where we looked Thomas’ lack of faith without seeing the clear evidence of the Risen Lord. When we consider both of these themes collectively, fear and facts, it isn’t difficult to see how prone we are to want to know what is happening or what will happen. When we are uninformed by facts, when those either aren’t known or aren’t available, we can be given to fear, at least I know I can be. The contrast to this is of course simply faith.

In responding to these thoughts of fear or lack of facts, we might start by asking why are we so given to this? In short, it’s a lack of control over the situation and in this it is as simple as the sin in the Garden where Eve (and subsequently Adam) desired to be like God, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” In every sense, at our core we have little areas of our sinful nature that want to be like God. Sometimes this is manifested in wanting control over situations, particularly things related to the future. When we know what is happening or what is going to happen we can prepare, react, and plan accordingly. When we don’t know, it leaves the door open for doubt and fear can soon follow.

The contrast to this of course is faith, giving ourselves completely over to the person and plan of God. Once again we must remind ourselves that faith is the evidence of things not seen. So we look not to the things that are known or the desire to need the facts and know the future in every situation. Rather we look to the unseen, namely God, and trust that He is always good, His plans are always perfect, and nothing can stop or interfere with the implementation of those plans exactly how He has ordained.

The disciples were often prone to ask the Lord for the details of what was going to happen, “Lord, who is it?”, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”, “Lord, what about this man?”, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” But it was not the Lord’s prerogative to give them every detail of what was happening or what was going to happen. Instead, in His wisdom He provided enough for them to believe; to trust in Him and the plan that was ordained by the Father.

How often can we be of so little faith like our spiritual forefathers desiring to know the details of what is happening or going to happen. As with them, so too with us, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Acts 1:7 Therefore, we must humbly resign ourselves in faith to the will of God and repent of the desire of wanting to know or control situations as though we were God.

Do you find yourself struggling with this as well? Particularly over the unsettling times of the last couple of years? May we look to the Lord and not the things of the world keeping our eyes on Jesus knowing that He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.

Soli Deo Gloria

About the author

Christian saved by grace through faith.

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