F.E.A.R.

Mark E. Haskins

February 24, 2025

Regret (see two prior blogs) and fear are two sides of the same coin. More specifically and simply, “regrets of yesterday and the fear of tomorrow . . . are twin thieves who would rob us of today [emphasis added].”¹ And we know that today is the day He has given us (Psalm 118: 24) to live life to the full (John 10: 10). With that truth in our hearts, and with anticipation like a child’s on Christmas morning, let’s remember, “The best part about His gift of a new day is that [we get to] spend all day unwrapping it.”² And yet, fear and regret are lurking, ready to steal the gift of today.

Surely, we have all had a season of fear. Yes? For me, I can recall a time when I hit the jackpot. The bank loan statement showed much more owed than was prudent. At work, I had requested a promotion review—I got the review, not the promotion. I must not have what it takes. The medical lab report came back—the numbers weren’t good. The house was on the market for a year—no prospective buyers were calling. My wife just had cancer surgery. Other difficult family issues also swirled and persisted. During that season, it felt like life was unravelling with fear and worry tugging on all sides. My carefully crafted vision of life was fading on every front. The grip of fear and worry was real, followed by a tired, deep sense of resignation—Who cares? Nobody! What does it matter? It doesn’t! Why try? Don’t bother! Have you ever had such a season?

Fear is often a subtle thief. Fear need not be just associated with horrific events like incoming mortar rounds, or a job termination, or a terminally ill spouse or child. Those are unimaginable unless you have lived them. I have not. Rather, for me and others, it is a worrisome, growing fear like that fueled by imagined dangers circling just outside the reach of a campfire’s glow. It is the drip, drip, drip of dread that becomes a relentless pounding surf. It is often accompanied by a pessimistic anticipation of another body blow. What’s next? When will it hit? Like the tenacious Virginia kudzu that grows to choke trees, fences and riverbanks, fear and worry look for the vulnerable soft soil of our heart and strives to quickly sink its deep, dark tap root and spread. Left unchecked, it invades our thoughts, tenaciously and effectively choking out our joy, poisoning our perspective, and deadening feelings for ourselves, loved ones, and even the Lord.

I have met such fear and can predict its arrival with the accuracy of a well-run Swiss train. For me, that fear train normally leaves the station because of a focus on unpleasant circumstances that produce stress, leading to worry, prompting anxiety and then a slow, but predictable arrival at a place of encampment called Pity City, on the banks of Bitter Creek. Have you ever camped there? For many, fear often takes root in financial, emotional, aspirational, or relational circumstances. What if my IRA takes another big hit? I’ll be working till the day I die. Why am I so withdrawn and emotionally flat? Joy seems to exist for others, not me. Have I peaked at work? Is this all my job will ever be? It provides a living but nothing of real interest. Why do I always seem to go against the grain and assume the worst in others and situations? I’m going to end up alone.

Satan often uses early morning darkness and a spiraling series of negative ‘what-if’ thoughts to fuel our fear train. For me, the bedside clock reads about 2:30 a.m. It is too early to start the day, so I lay still or risk waking my wife. Whoever said to count sheep at such a time was about as helpful as sunglasses at midnight or Metallica at a prayer vigil. Counting sheep doesn’t work and anyway, the sheep I see morph into ugly goats with names that progress from Gloom to Doom, to Disaster, and ultimately to You’re Screwed. Because of these all-too-frequent, early morning rides on a fear train, I finally learned to quit making To Do lists in response and instead, more earnestly sought the Lord’s presence and peace. He shows up and comforts. He has shown me the truth of the fears I have. It is F.E.A.R.—Faith Evaporating And Receding (Matthew 8: 26) because my Flesh is Engaged And Ruling (John 6: 63)! Yes, we must be honest and call it what it is.

Many of us are familiar with the 23rd Psalm—a glorious, reassuring, comforting declaration of hope and promise of the Lord’s presence and peace in our lives. Many of us though, may not be as familiar with the first part of the preceding Psalm—Psalm 22. There, the Psalmist, David, pours out his self-pity, his lack of faith, his fear. “My God, my God, why are you turned away from me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my crying? (v. 1) . . . I make my cry in the day, and you give no answer; and in the night and have no rest. (v. 2). Be not far from me; for trouble is near; there is no one to give help (v. 11) . . . all my bones are out of place (v. 14) . . . my throat is dry (v. 15) . . . dogs have come round me” (v. 16). Thankfully, David does not stay in that pit. Instead, he goes back to the simple truth he knows. “Do not be far from me, O Lord: O my strength, come quickly to my help” (v. 19). “For He has not been unmoved by the pain of him who is troubled; or kept His face covered from him; but He has given an answer to his cry” (v. 24). And David’s heart then sings the answer he has been given, the truth he knows—the 23rd Psalm.

Indeed, our Lord is the antidote to fear and worry. The fix is not “trying harder,” not “pushing through,” and not “putting your big-boy pants on.” The fix is a person, the triune God with you . . . for you . . . and in you (Colossians 1: 27). Let’s embrace that truth and hold onto two more. First, “God is love; and everyone who has love is in God, and God is in him” (I John 4:16) and as a result, there will be “no fear of the evil things of the night” (Psalm 91: 5). Second, “There is no fear in love: true love has no room for fear” (I John 4:18). Perhaps we need to hear all that again—there is no fear in God, who is Love. Just as David did, we can cry out, complain, and even question God’s care. Let it rip. He can handle it. And when we finally seek His arms, He will fill our reality with an overwhelming assurance of His love, leaving no room for fear. Gratitude and a clear sense of His loving presence will rise up in us. Let’s resolve to live as His beloved, and He as ours. Let’s resolve to put ourselves more quickly in His hands every moment. And when we board a fear train and start walking back through the cars of stress, anxiety, and worry, if we ask, He’ll bring the train to a stop. And just like David, we can exit at a place where His peace abounds (Philippians 4: 6-7) and His safe arms will encircle us and “lift [us] out of the pit of despair” (Psalm 40: 2 NLT).

¹ Robert J. Hastings (2003), The Station: A Reminder to Cherish the Journey (TRISTAN Publishing, Golden Valley, MN), no pg. #.

² Wayne Jacobsen (2021), Live Loved, Free, Full (Blue Sheep Media, Torrington, WY), p. 310.

Note: Unless noted otherwise, all direct scripture quotes are from the Bible in Basic English, published 1949/1964, now in the public domain. Quotes marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.