Fear: the enemy’s tactic to discourage and distract us from God’s work
By Dean Collins
Since I wrote about fear several days ago, I can’t help thinking more about it. Some fear can be very helpful and lead to appropriate actions. You have probably read articles or books or recall lectures from Psychology 101 that explain how our brains process fear, pleasure, and other emotions. If you want a refresher, click here for a short video that explains how the amygdala works to help us process fear.
Fear is also a marketing strategy and a news media tactic to catch our attention. Both political parties use fear in their attempts to win our votes. Advocacy groups use fear to get us to align with their particular positions or against another. And people of faith are not immune from falling for the tricks of these various perpetrators of fear used by the enemy of God to stir our fears and distract us from doing the kingdom work God calls us to do. Also, if Satan can keep us afraid, he knows we won’t be experiencing the goodness and the grace of God.
Rebuilding stopped?
The book of Nehemiah is a great example of how enemies of God used fear to attempt to stop Nehemiah and disrupt the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem. The book opens with Nehemiah hearing a report from a friend about how the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem are doing there. The report was not good: “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (1:3). Hearing this report prompted Nehemiah to do what we all should do when we hear troubling news from a reliable source: Pray. Nehemiah prayed that God would listen, would be faithful to his promises, and would direct his paths to help. And God answered Nehemiah’s prayer.
In terms of eternity, God answered Nehemiah’s prayer very quickly. But some might say God answered slowly, because Bible scholars think three or four months passed between Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 1 and chapter 2 where we read that the king noticed the sadness on his wine taster’s face.
Hope deferred?
What the KIng noticed on Nehemiah’s face might be a good example of Solomon’s words in Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” When we long for something and it does not come quickly, we may experience hope deferred. When we see the suffering of those we love continue it is hard. It will often show in our countenance, our posture, and in our relationships. We mustn’t think because our prayers are not answered instantly and how we think best that God is not responding or immediately involved in our situation. We may not always understand or agree, but God is never inactive in caring for his beloved children.
Hands strengthened
Nehemiah prayed throughout the entire time he was deployed to Jerusalem and busy building the walls and hanging the gates of the city. There were many attempts by the enemy to slow and stop Nehemiah’s progress. But fortified by prayer, Nehemiah would not stop. In chapter 6 in another attempt by Sanballet, Tobiah, and Geshem to discourage the progress, Nehemiah sent this message: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”
The three adversaries tried to use fear to interrupt Nehemiah’s work. But Nehemiah would have nothing of it. He simply prayed: “But now, O God, strengthen my hands,” and God gave him the strength to accomplish the mission God had given him.
I am increasingly aware that when we are doing God’s work, the enemy will use many tactics to stir fear in our hearts and minds and in the hearts and minds of our colleagues, which may be fellow church members, friends, employees, or family. Our best defense against the attacks that stir fear is to step back and pray. Through our prayers and worship, God will calm our internal storms and give us clarity in our mission and strength for the work he has called us to do.
God is with us and working his eternal plan of renewal and restoration of all creation. We must not let fear keep us from the joy of his presence with us or his purpose for us!
Your time with God’s Word
Nehemiah 6:3, 9; 4:9-11, 14-15; Proverbs 13:12 ESV
Photo by James Kovin at unsplash.com
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