Faith over Fear - How to Trust God in Hard Times

One of my most favourite summer family traditions is when we drive down to visit our family in the United States and go to the local county fair.

This one year we went, there was a mini circus, cow-boy show being held. The man performing the stunts did many amazing tricks, but one of the most memorable stunts he performed involved a stick and a whip.

The man asked the audience for a volunteer who would like to participate in his stunt, and a young boy came forward. The man asked the boy to hold the stick at arms-length out to the side, and he then proceeded to use the whip to swiftly slice through the stick, which was precariously close to the young boy's wrist.

The man explained as he was doing this stunt that to be able to break the stick with the whip, he must focus on the stick. If he focused on the boy's wrist or his fear of hitting the boys wrist instead of the stick, then the whip would land on the boys wrist, exactly where he wasn't trying to aim.

Now, imagine that the stick is faith, hope or joy, the good stuff, and then imagine that the boy's wrist is our fears, the bad stuff.

If we put all of our focus on the stick, the whip will land on the good stuff.

But if we put all of our focus on the boy's wrist, the whip will land on the bad stuff.

Our minds our powerful. Whatever we choose to focus on is what we will do or become consumed by.

The point? If we focus on all of our fears, we risk becoming consumed by them, leaving the door wide open for more fear, anxiety, depression and hopelessness, just like focusing on the young boy's wrist instead of focusing on the stick would bring the whip down exactly where we're not aiming for.

To be able to land the whip on the stick, we must focus on the stick.

But how, you ask, do we focus on the stick?

"If you feed your faith, your fears will starve. If you feed your fears, your faith will starve. We have to do intentional things to feed our faith." - Max Lucado

Like Max Lucado, a well-known Christian author and pastor, explains, in order for our fears to starve, we must feed our faith.

So to be able to focus on the stick, we have to feed our faith, because then our fears will starve.

But during this time of COVID-19, it has become incredibly easy to feed our fears and to become consumed by them, instead of feeding our faith.

The news provides a plethora of anxious stories and updates and this can create stress and fear. It is too easy to become consumed by our fears and to focus on the boy's wrist, landing the whip on the bad stuff.

With so much uncertainty and fear, it's scary, but here's where the great news comes in: God can help us feed our faith and overcome our fears!

We are told to run with perseverance the race marked out for us by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. He ran his race with perseverance because of the joy set before him. He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

So how are we supposed to persevere when the last thing we're feeling right now is perseverance? By fixing our eyes on Jesus! (notice where I underlined above)

In order to focus on the stick, we must feed our faith, but we also have to focus, or fix our eyes, on Jesus.

And here's why focusing on Jesus lets us focus on the stick and overcome our fears:

The Bible tells us that Jesus is able to empathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus went through suffering; he experienced hard times, and when we read what Jesus endured on the cross, we can see that he experienced anguish, he understands our emotions because he went through life just like we do!

Before he is taken away, Jesus prays fervently to God in the garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." We are then told that an angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and strengthened him. It also says that Jesus, being in anguish, prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:42-44)

Jesus was in turmoil. The most huge weight imaginable was placed upon his shoulders, but in praying to his Father and in surrendering to God by saying not my will but yours, we can see that he was given strength.

Jesus was able to put his anguish aside instead of becoming consumed by it because he surrendered to God. He was able to go through the suffering of the cross because he fixed his eyes on the end goal - the joy that we could be forgiven and have eternal life!

Because Jesus is our example of how to live our lives, our pioneer and perfecter of faith, if we focus on him, we can learn how to live like him!

This doesn't mean that we're going to be perfect, and this doesn't mean that we will never experience fear, but this does mean that we can overcome our fears and be strengthened just like Jesus was!

By fixing our eyes on Jesus, our fears will fade, but not only that, Jesus also calls us to give all of our fears to him.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus doesn't want us to carry any of our fears, anxieties, sadness, pain, or burdens alone. He want us to give each and every one of them to him.

In giving up our fears to God, we can find peace in him!

And even if every day this season of COVID-19 changes, even if it worsens, or even if it gets better, Jesus never changes!

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" Hebrews 13:8

This means that Jesus is always trustworthy, always loving, always loyal, always good, always with us, and always in control. Who he is doesn't change!

Yes, this season that we are going through right now is scary, but Jesus is with us the whole way. The one who breathed the world into being is still in control of it all, and he chooses to walk through every season, no matter how hard or easy, with us.

We will get through this season! Jesus is with us; he is always trustworthy, and we can let our fears go by giving them to him.

Instead of feeding all of our fears during this time, let's overcome them by fixing our eyes on Jesus, and by feeding our faith!

As well, keep in mind that I am not saying that we should completely ignore the news; we need to keep ourselves updated and know what is going on in the world.

What I am saying is this: do not let yourself get caught up in scrolling through the news, the internet or social media's wide range of updates, opinions and stories. Immersing yourself in all of that for a long time will make you anxious and will feed your fears, not your faith.

Make sure that you are looking at reliable and trustworthy sources to update yourself, and remember that God is always there, and he is in control.

Below, I've listed some ways that you can feed your faith instead of your fears during this time. I hope that as you feed your faith, you will trust in God and feel his peace even while COVID-19 causes chaos.

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4 Ways to Feed Your Faith Instead of Your Fears:

1. Praying

Coming to God in prayer enables us to have a conversation with God, whether it be praising him, praying for guidance, praying for help, praying for another person, asking for forgiveness or giving him our fears. Sometimes, though, prayer doesn't even have to be words; it can be sitting and listening to God or just basking in his presence, silently thanking him for how wonderful he is. Often times I find that walking through nature can make me feel God's presence and hear his voice more clearly. Next time you go on a walk, try talking to God as you do so and notice all the detail in his creation; see if it changes how you feel and hear God's presence!

2. Reading God's Word

Scripture is the very words breathed by God. It is a letter from him to us, and he wants us to read it! Reading God's word can bring you closer to him and help you learn more about him. God's word tells you and reassures you about who you are in Jesus as well as give instruction on how to follow Jesus. This is a great opportunity to learn more about God during this time when we're all stuck in our houses! Since Easter is nearing, some great passages of scripture to read are Luke 22-24 or John 17-20, or read through any of the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or all of them at once if you want, and marvel at Jesus wise teaching and his wonderful, evident love for everyone, including you.

3. Worshiping God

Worship music is such a special way of praising God! Even though the church can't gather in actual person during this particular season, that certainly doesn't mean that we should stop singing praises to God! Try having your own personal worship session to your favourite worship songs or just listening to worship music and soaking in the lyrics. Worshiping God doesn't only have to mean music though; you can worship God by journaling, drawing, painting, writing, dancing, running, practically anything!

Here are some great worship songs to listen to:

• Tremble; Mosaic MSC

• Yours; Elevation Worship

• So Will I; Hillsong Worship

• Fear is a Liar; Zach Williams

• God Only Knows; for King and Country

• Reckless Love; Cory Asbury

• Waymaker; Sinach.

• Bigger Than I thought; Passion

• See a Victory; Elevation Worship

• Listen to K-Love! (an encouraging Christian radio-station)

4. Online Church!

Most churches have transferred to online services during social distancing. Even if the church can't gather in person, watching worship and a service online can be very impactful and inspiring. It can make you feel connected even though we're all in our own homes, especially with Easter and Good Friday this weekend! If you don't have an online church service to watch on Sundays, some great services to tune into are https://northpoint.org/ (NorthPoint), https://www.creeksidechurch.ca/ (Creekside) or https://saddleback.com/ (Saddleback).

It's time to put our faith over our fear!