Today we had two guest ‘preachers’ to share a wonderful message of hanging on to faith and letting go of fear. We also had a young visitor from Seminary in Philadelphia – someone who is working every day at letting go of fear and grasping his faith. What a beautiful message we find in today’s lessons: no matter what storms are raging in our lives, there is someone we can count on. There is a peace we can find, if we open our eyes to it.
At one point we were asked to close our eyes and to imagine – to remember – a terrifying moment in our life. I will admit, I cheated. I closed my eyes. I listed to the directive and thought of a time I was very frightened. Then we were asked to really let ourselves remember, to be transported to that time and place again. At that moment I opened my eyes. I don’t want to be there again. I needed to stop the memory. I understood the purpose of the exercise, but I was not able to fully participate. Perhaps I have not let go of my fear.
Fear is said to be the opposite of faith. So, if I am still consumed by fear at times, does that mean I am without faith? I don’t believe so. I do believe that I am not living by faith first at those moments, but it is not absent. If I were living my life led entirely by fear, I’m not sure I would get out of bed in the mornings. So, I will continue to work on letting go of fear – if I’m not too scared of what that means.
All 4 Us 
“Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow Me, and I will give you rest.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
While we talk about fear – not doubt – as the opposite of faith, that doesn’t mean the two cannot coexist. I think of fear as overtaking our faith, overwhelming it, but not necessarily destroying it. Like Peter who stepped out of the boat, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can live by faith. When we take our eyes off him, we start to sink.
LikeLike