Set Fire to Fear by PAUSING
Set Fire to Fear by PAUSING
When God spoke the sun into being, did the fire burn slow and get bigger and bigger into the flame it is now? Or did it burst forth into a fireball of beauty, light, and life-giving warmth? When God spoke the sun in creation on that fourth day, what kind of light existed before it?
Sometimes these deep questions find me here in my ordinary days. On the days when mornings come early and the sun hasn’t peeked over the hills yet, I find myself wondering about its light. Because before the sun, there was light. God created LIGHT on the first day. Not until the fourth day did our sun make its entrance.
I’m reading a book about a man who runs a lighthouse in Australia after WWII. Its a love story intermingled with loss and grief. The man was reflecting on how the pieces of his life and the choices he made seemed dark. Did you know that lighthouses don’t illuminate anything around it? The island where the lighthouse sits gets none of the brilliance. All of the light goes out to sea. The man in the story doesn’t see the ships in need of saving, only trusts the light to show the way. In fact, he says in a speech that “We don’t know where the light goes…”
So where do we find light when fear invades?
Light. It is the first thing God created. Not the sun. Or the moon and stars. Light itself was created from the darkness. And God spoke it into being. Light.
What light existed before that?
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Rev. 21:23
It was God’s Light.
When we watched the eclipse, my boys and I put on the darkening glasses and glanced upward. I was hesitant, to look at the flaming ball of fire. Would the glasses work? Would they protect my eyes from the light? They did, and when I saw the piece of the moon covering the sun in the crescent blackness, I realized it wasn’t the light I should fear. The darkness is much more sinister. As we slowly watched it move across the red ball, almost unreal, I felt the warmer temperatures drop. The children lost interest, but I continued to gaze heavenward. Soaking in this event, wondering what it was like to suddenly see light after eternity in darkness. It was amazing and made me think of two events in the Bible.
The first is Jesus on the cross. It says in the Bible that the region experienced darkness for a few hours while Jesus hung dying on the cross. The second event I thought of was Israel running from their enemies near the Red Sea. Before the Great Deliverance, there was darkness. In both cases, darkness and probably anxiety plagued everyone. Physical darkness represent the darkness of the spiritual fear engulfing the hearts of God’s people, God’s Son. The darkness gave way to light. For the Israelites, it was Pillar of Fire.
“He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.” Psalm 105:39
Darkness and night will come to our hearts, but a Great Deliverence is coming. God is working. The Creator of light provides the light. For Israel, I’m sure they had campfires and lanterns. They didn’t necessarily need the pillar of fire to light the way, but did it provide comfort?
Did the fear settle in their hearts, but as they looked up – God reminded them of His presence. I love all of the passages in Scripture that focus on God’s presence as light.
In God’s presence, we find light. Fire can destroy our faith, but God’s presence turns the fire around and we see His glory. The glory of God is the fire to kindle courage.
Tweet ThisThe Creator’s coals kindles courage when fear consumes.
We don’t have to find the light, produce the light, or seek out light. We have only be still and remember. He is our LORD and God. It is up to Him to shine, not us. We will be consumed with fear, but we don’t have to conceded to live there. Let God shine the light through the power of prayer and the truth of His Word.
“He made darkness around him his canopy,
thick clouds, a gathering of water.
Out of the brightness before him
coals of fire flamed forth.
The Lord thundered from heaven,
and the Most High uttered his voice.” 2 Sam. 22:12-14
How do we set fire to fear? How do we kick fear from our hearts and kindle courage?
Know God Will Provide the Light
1. He created light.
2. Jesus the light of the world.
3. Light isn’t up to us, but Him.
To set a fire, we must strike a match. We must begin the flames. Setting fire to fear will maybe take time, but today you can “strike the match” by PAUSING
Ask yourself….
1. What areas in my life are filled with darkness?
2. What promises from God will give me peace today?
3. How can I pause and reflect on God’s truth?
