“For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”
Job 3:25 NKJV
The story of Job has some complexities associated with it. A righteous person is enduring much suffering and pain. It opens the can of why bad things befall the believer. It is obvious in the book that God is pleased with Job as the conversation is recorded between the Lord and Satan. Yet, Job faces unparalleled adversity and suffering.
I have read Job on numerous occasions and have come to a partial understanding that in this instance ONE aspect of Job’s problem could be tied to his fear. He obviously had been anxious and fearful in the past that what he was presently facing as adversity was a possibility. In fact, he had thought about it deeply because he “dreaded” that possibility.
How much of my life, or for that matter, is any part of my life consumed with dread? How much does fear play a part in my expectations? Does fear play a part in what I face? Why does the scripture make an overwhelming case to shake off fear? Could it be that fear is an open door in my life that grants access to adversity I might other wise have avoided? These are honest questions. To what extent am I the reason certain events take place in my life?
I know that people reading this will disagree with me and they are at liberty to do so, however, I am simply evaluating my own journey and probing my own spiritual well-being. I am convinced that fear, much like faith, works in the realm of expectations and confidences. While faith is an expectation and confidence in God’s Word and promises, fear is an expectation and confidence in the world or the adversary. And as we rehearse and meditate on those fears continually, we run the risk of those thoughts actually becoming what some have described as a “self-fulfilling” prophecy. It appears to me that Job was facing such a moment. The thing he feared and dreaded was fulfilled.
I can look back on my life and see clearly that there were numerous moments when my spiritual walk boiled down to a fear versus faith struggle. What was I going to believe? What would I anticipate and expect? What thoughts would consume my mind and I would rehearse continually? Have I ever faced an adverse moment where my initial response was, “I knew this would happen”? My words unveiled my true confidence. I had been dwelling in fear.
I have made fun of people in the distant past who practice what is called, “positive confession”. I treated them as naïve, unrealistic, simple-minded, or theologically unsophisticated. How arrogant I was to justify my fears and dread while demeaning their faith and confidence. Simplicity is always the stumbling block to the haughty.
I am reminding myself today that all of Satan’s plans must be resisted. James said it succinctly when he reminded us to submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee (4:7). What I don’t rise up and resist will never go away. Today, I choose to resist fear and dread.
I resist every thought that seeks to steal, kill or destroy God’s good will for my life…
I will open the door to the plan of God…
I will close the door to every unfounded speculation…
God is indeed good…
All the time.
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