Issue 24: The Unafraid Issue

1. Face fear

2. Fearfully made

3. Overcoming fear

4. Time’s up

5. A God of love that

6. Fascin8calls for our fear

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Designed by Wanja Focaraccioillumin8 - Issue 24 - October 2011

ear can also however be irrational. So often some of our biggest fears are harmless, inconsequential things of no eternal value; fears of

people's perceptions and opinions, people with the same, if not greater, fears than our own; fear of embarrassment and ridicule.

What is the ridicule of a fearful man? Imagine if Christopher Columbus let the ridicule of others get to him.

You know that saying, 'Been there, done that, got the T-shirt'? Well I've been on the edge of a bridge with a rope around my ankles. I jumped off that bridge. I bought the T-shirt. And on that T-shirt it says:Fear is temporary, Regret is forever, FACE FEAR

I don't know what your greatest fears are. I doubt I even know explicitly what my own greatest fears really are. But I do know that these fears paralyse us, they keep us from moving forward, they clip our wings. We miss opportunities for greatness, we miss out on some of our deepest desires and then we begin to feel regret.

In the book of Joshua the Israelites are finally about to end their 40 year exile in the desert. But the land they are about to enter is filled with fierce, giant warriors and fear and doubt begins to set in; a fear that threatens their inheritance, the glorious triumph that God had promised them all those years before. And had they missed out on this opportunity, great regret ad remorse would have set in. But God reassured them saying, 'Do not be afraid or discouraged. Instead be strong and very courageous for I, the Lord your God, will be with you wherever you go.' In fact, in Chapter 1 the words 'Be strong and courageous' appear three times. God asks us to put our faith in Him and not to fear the so-called giants of this world because He's got it all under control.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

I jumped, but it wasn't the epic leap I had imagined and even practiced with excited anticipation beforehand. My fear, my mind, held me back from doing it with the full conviction I could have done it with. And I regretted it.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BUNGEEEEEEEEEEEEEE …

Wait, what? What are you doing? Are you seriously going to jump off

a bridge? Are you crazy? No! NO! Nooooo …

'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful

beyond measure.' You would be forgiven for thinking that these words were spoken by Nelson Mandela at his inaugural address

in Cape Town in 1994.Many people (including myself) have been mislead to believe this

due to the misquoting of these words. I was somewhat disappointed when I learned that these were not our beloved Madiba's. But even so, something in these words resonates

within me; a deep desire for greatness and the

deep-seated fear of actually achieving it.

Mandela did however say that courage is not the absence of fear, but acting in spite of fear. I would like to dare to add to his wisdom and say that courage is acting nobly and righteously despite fear. Otherwise it may simply be stupidity disguised as courage – a sheep in wolf's clothing. You see, fear can be healthy; it's a sign of respect for whatever it is that we are facing. And respecting a challenge is a very prudent thing. Arrogance and disrespect have been the downfall of many a man (and woman).

Marianne Williamson A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

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Conformity. Without knowing it, I’ve allowed a fear of conformity to dictate much of my actions, with particular regard to my faith. Somewhere this idea emerged that Christianity was going to make me into this cookie-cutter person with no identity of my own. I mean how can I be my own person if I’m aspiring to be the image of Christ like everyone else?

It was only very recently that I learnt that this fear of conformity is nothing short of pride. I always thought pride was associated with arrogance and conceit. But a lack of self-esteem can lead to a different manifestation of pride – the desire to be different, special and unique. I realised that the devil had used my lack of self-esteem and twisted it in his masterful way to create a giant stumbling block in my faith. I was crippled by my need for reassurance from the Father that I was special.

I’ve got this list of words in my head that I use to describe myself but my problem is that they are things that other people have to. When I come across someone who is good with words, I think, ‘Well I can’t use that to describe myself anymore.’ Or if I see a stunning photograph that someone else has taken, I think, ‘Why do I bother with photography? Mine will never look like that.’ As you can imagine, I ran through my list pretty fast and was quickly left with nothing of my ‘own’.

illumin8 - Issue 24 - October 2011

I prayed about this other day because I needed to replace this lie with something life-giving. As I sat and waited, I had a mental picture of words floating up in front of me. I realised that they were all the words I used to describe myself. Then I noticed that many of the words were duplicated and that they were organised into groups. I realised that each group of words represented a person and that each one looked different as a result. My group was all sparkly and colourful – just the most beautiful thing to my mind. Another was texturized with earthy tones, a third was a whole variety of pinks. Each was unique. And each group slotted into a little space, complimenting the others around it. The collective was breath-taking.

While there are only so many talents and characteristics available, the combination and use of them is infinite. This is where my cookie-cutter Christianity theory falls on its face – it assumes that God is a finite combination that we all need to aspire to. But God is so big that

He can contain each and every combination that He will ever use to create a person. Our goal is not to become the same as each other – it is to be uniquely ourselves and therefore be the important part of the image of God that He created us to be.

Our generation is often characterised by a need to be independent and this feeds the fear of conformity. But I want to encourage you to look this fear in the face and see how flimsy it actually is when com-pared to God’s magnificence. I’m trading in my desire to create my own value, and choosing instead to celebrate the splendour of what God has created in me. After all, He’s got a bit more experience and is bound to do a much more impressive job than I ever could.

‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.’ – Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

While there are only so many talents and characteristics available, the combination and use of them is infinite. This is where my cookie-cutter Christianity theory falls on its face...

illumin8 - Issue 24 - October 2011 Designed by Leanne Rhodes

FEAR grips me as I hear the sound of fiercely flapping wings in the darkness. I know what creature makes that sound and feel repulsed. I can just picture its squirming, powdery body with beating wings. My heart starts racing as I switch on the light and come face to face with one of my biggest fears … a MOTH!

Granted, you must be thinking I’m crazy. A moth can’t hurt me, I know, but for some reason it’s a very real fear

of mine. The minute I am ‘confronted’ by a moth, my heart starts racing and I panic! I realise my reaction is completely irrational but it’s just how I feel.

In August my husband and I went to the Natu-ral History Museum in London. There was a Sensational Butterflies exhibit, with hundreds of


live butterflies in a marquee outside. I’m not as scared of but-terflies as I am of moths (only because they usually stay out of my way) but to be honest, a confined space with hundreds of moth-like creatures flapping around me seemed pretty terrifying. I did, however, decide to take a big step towards overcoming my fear, and went to the exhibit anyway. I tried to stay optimistic and hoped I would somehow not be scared anymore, but that was not the case. As I stepped inside I felt my heart palpitating as I realised there was no quick escape for me. There were lots of tourists, narrow winding walkways and plants and butterflies on every side. I tried to make the most of the experience but then glanced up and saw an enor-mous moth the size of my husband’s hand! Not to mention two massive butterflies landing on the lady walking right in front

of me … I nearly had a heart attack! The only reason I didn’t burst out crying was because my husband was with me, ready to protect me from the flapping creatures if they got too close. I also know that God gave me the strength that day to take a step closer to overcoming my fear.

An appropriate acronym for fear could be, False Emotions Appearing Real. All of us fear something; be it a moth an interview or a life threatening disease. But whatever fear has a hold on you … remember to fear, Face Everything And Re-joice, while holding onto God’s promise from Isaiah 41:13, ‘For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.’

As I stepped inside I felt my heart palpitating as I realised there was no quick escape for me.

There were lots of tourists, narrow winding walkways and plants and butterflies on every

side. I tried to make the most of the experience but then glanced up and saw an enormous

moth the size of my husband’s hand!


Three, two, one. A momentary pause and the treadmill starts turning. I muster that initial surge of energy to get going and my run be-gins. Earphones in. Music on. Today I’m drawn into some music that artfully captures yearning. The band is melodically wishing for what has already passed … describing numbness … longing for a new window. It connects with my soul because my friend died a few weeks ago, and in his absence I am acutely aware of potential that now cannot be fulfilled.

It didn’t make sense that our friend Isaac should die. God was doing amazing things through him. This peer of ours was a vibrant and enthusiastic gatherer and shepherd of people. My husband and I witnessed his decision to become a follower of Jesus, and after a few short years we blinked, it seemed, and found he’d started a church of two hundred people back in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Spirit of God was moving in power and people were visiting his church from all parts of the world because at his church miracles happened. God’s favour was on Isaac and he was doing good things, making the world a better place. Speaking to him over the phone always left us with the distinct impression that this man, despite hav-ing negligible resources and pastoring a desperately

poor congregation, was one who could teach us so much about Jesus.

We thought we still had lots of time to visit Isaac but the window for that was smaller than we’d imagined. His death was a wake-up call to me, a reminder that our time on earth will not last forever. But Isaac’s earthly life did not end without leaving an impact that I am convinced will ripple out for a while longer. I want that too, when I die. So my question is: would anything of lasting significance

be left behind if my earthly life was snuffed out tomorrow?

Pound, pound, pound. Subconsciously I place my feet in measured lengths along the rapidly moving conveyor belt of the

treadmill. Toning and shaping muscle but staying in one spot. Burn-ing calories but not moving anywhere. I check my time. Just under

halfway.

Just under halfway, God willing. I’m familiar with measured paces, honing and learning, yet sometimes I feel like I’m not getting far in becoming anywhere near as honour-able and true as Jesus or doing much that changes the world around me like Jesus did. Yet He says I can! People like Isaac remind me it’s possible. ‘Do what you say you believe!’ That’s what I keep hearing God say lately. Bible bits have shone out from the pages: You’ve


heard Me, you know what is right, now DO it and you’ll have life; you teachers teach what is right, now DO it; you be-lieve in what is right, now DO it (my interpretation of Ezekiel 18:30-32; Luke 10:36-37 and James 2:17).

‘Yes, Lord, I want to! I will!’ Now where to start? Love – es-pecially those who hate you. Bless – especially those who ridicule you. Forgive. Persevere. Be self-controlled. Give generously – to everyone who asks you. Pray – at all times. Be thankful in everything – even in rubbish circumstances. Keep the faith – especially when logic fights you. Speak boldly. Flee any form of wrongdoing – even in your thoughts. Aargh.

Help.

I want my life to count, but I keep coming up against my own shortfalls. I have neither the energy to try so hard nor the altruism to love so deeply that it makes a ground break-ing difference. To do that I’d need more than just my willing spirit and good intentions.

Thankfully, I know where there is promise of the help I need. I turn to that empty cross – the one that Our Majesty Jesus changed from a place of torture into a place of promise. When He left that cross He ushered in a new dimension of life – resurrected life. Life from death. Richer life in this life. Sight from blindness. The privilege to call on God’s rule and reign to enter our earthly dimension. His Spirit as our con-stant companion and coach.

Yes.

This is the help I need. This cross – this doorway to a dimen-sion of Life, real Life. The promise in it means I can dare to let Jesus suggest the size of my paces. When I run with the

determination of an athlete in training and find that I’m actually going much further than I think, I know it’s because God’s feet are under mine. Through this new dimension I plant little kernels of love where I can, and can trust that God will water them and make them grow. I can willingly permit Jesus to interfere, know-ing that He will walk alongside me in the hard things He asks – like forgiving and enduring and not fear-ing. Knowing what Jesus gave at the cross, I can feel secure in doing what I hear Him telling me to do. It is He who re-wires my insides and touches the world through me. His resurrected Life enables my life to be significant and to leave lasting, rippling effects after I am gone because His breath lives on where mine fades.

I am hungry for more in this life. When I see the Isaacs of this world I am inspired again to be more and do more. Not in straining me-type ways, but in bold God-type ways. It didn’t make sense that Isaac should die, but in the light of the cross, Isaac lives on. He saw glimpses of God’s Kingdom dimension here on earth and he partnered with Jesus in ushering it in. That’s what made his earthly life significant. I wonder if, when he crossed over from death to life with Jesus, it all felt rather familiar, only… fuller, more abundant and more complete than he ever experienced on earth. A homecoming. I want to be that familiar with God’s Kingdom when my earthly life ends. That way I will be satisfied that my life has achieved Kingdom significance, even if it has not met earthly measures of significance.

Beep, beep, beep. Time’s up and the treadmill slows to a standstill. Satisfied that I have done what I was here to do, I step off and move on.


“Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

The God that we serve is a God of love. Our vantage point on the latter side of the Cross affords us the beautiful opportu-nity to relate to God as a personal Friend; He’s intimate, He listens, He extends mercy, He forgives and He loves. But in times when the love of God is generally emphasised, some-times even to the extent of excluding any call to fear the Lord, is it possible that we are robbing ourselves of the very intimate relationship we desire with Him?

John Bevere1 wrote that our love for God is limited by our fear of Him. It’s a thought-provoking statement, and one that can lead us to consider whether it is possible to love someone without knowing them, and without embracing the fullness of who they really are.

Scripture says that God is both a God of Love2 and a Consuming Fire3; God is a God of mercy, but also one who judges irreverence and disobedience. Our understanding of God needs to encompass all of who God is – in His entirety – to afford us the opportunity to truly grow in our love for Him. This requires us to embrace those aspects of God that may not initially be desirable to us, notably, His call for us to fear Him. But rather than cower under a crippling burden of fear, I believe that God calls us to fear Him by consider-ing His thoughts, opinions, directives and promises as the su-preme authority in our lives.

We all have people in our lives whose opinions carry great weight. We know that as long as we have certain people’s approval and support we will be able to stand against any opposition that may come on other fronts. Cultivating a fear of the Lord requires us to train ourselves to make God that ‘weight bearing’ authority in our lives, choosing moment by moment to believe that God’s Word, His Nature and His Character trumps any circumstance or opinion we encounter.

We have an opportunity to cultivate fear of the Lord in every area of our life, but one particular area that provides a platform for us to grow in our fear of the Lord is the way we respond to trials; spe-cifically the attitude we adopt in times when God’s promise to us seems to evade reality.

By Veronika Gloek


The Old Testament chronicles the story of how the Israelites wandered the desert for forty years4. During this time, we read of God’s constant faithfulness in providing His people with what they needed; escape from their pursuing enemies, manna and quail, fresh water; yet whenever the Israelites faced some dif-ficulty, they were quick to remember their days in Egypt, and when their present circumstances appeared more testing than their fading memories of the past, they were quick to grumble and express their desire to return to the land of their bondage. The Israelites did not have the benefit of hindsight to afford them the comfort of knowing that God would lead them into the Promised Land if only they trusted Him; theirs was only a choice as to how they would respond when God’s promise was in their hearts, but their circumstances spoke of that promise being denied to them. The Israelites had a choice and their choice displayed their lack of fear of God. They did not regard God as Sovereign in all He does, rather they allowed themselves to be tossed by the changing waves of circumstance; praising God when He performed miracles on their behalf, and grumbling bit-terly when challenges arose.

Joseph5 was a man of different meat. Like the Israelites, God had given Joseph a glorious promise, and Joseph too was taken on a substantial detour, one that seemed to lead him further and further away from the realisation of God’s promise to him. Ridiculed, betrayed, abandoned, falsely accused and forgotten, Joseph had every reason to complain against God, yet Scripture suggests no such attitude. Joseph was a man who

feared God and who faithfully clung to His sovereignty. If Joseph had chosen, like the Israelites, to hold any resentment towards God, he may very well have made different choices in the face of a decision between gratifying his own desires and obeying God. Without a deep conviction of God’s sovereignty, Joseph may not have had the strength to resist the seductions of Photipher’s wife, and the story of Joseph would be very different from the one we read in Scripture today. When we lose sight of God’s sovereignty and neglect to consider His thoughts, opinions, directives and promises as the supreme authority in our lives, we run the risk of curtailing God’s purposes for our lives.

The Israelites submitted to the waves of their emotions and cir-cumstance and in doing so, they forfeited the security of know-ing that in all things, God is sovereign. Our commitment to God’s sovereignty, and ultimately our fear of Him, strengthens us in times of trials.

In this life we are promised no easy journey. But God is always more concerned with our relationship with Him and our character, than in our comfort. We often have little control over our circum-stances, but we can choose our response. If we desire to grow in our fear of the Lord by holding the thoughts, opinions, directives and promises of God as the ultimate authority in our lives, then believing that God is sovereign - always - will aid us to that end.

There will come a day when every living being will bow in the fear before the Lord. For some, it will be a terrifying experience when suddenly the awesome splendour and glory of God Almighty is revealed to them. For others it will be the natural extension of a daily journey of loving God in the fullness of who He is; choosing to hold the thoughts, opinions, directives and promises of God as the highest authority in their lives.


References1. ‘Fear of the Lord’ by John Bevere – an excellent read!2. 1 John 4:8b3. Hebrews 12:294. Exodus 13 - 175. Genesis 37, 39-50

Freakish and fear-inducing, most of us have at least one phobia. Most are irrational, but then by definition, that’s exactly what a phobia is. This is a short list of ones that seemed really odd to us – why not add your personal fa-vourite to our list on Facebook?

Syngenesophobi – fear of relatives.

Rhytiphobia – fear of getting wrinkles.

Panophobia – fear of everything.

Nomophobia – fear of being outside of cell phone signal.

Ephebiphobia – fear of teenagers.

Pupaphobia – fear of puppets.

Allodoxaphobia – fear of opinions.

Geliophobia – fear of laughter.

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia – fear of long words.

Rhytiphobia – fear of getting wrinkles.


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Issue 24: The Unafraid Issue