You can and do face fear and faith at the same time

How many times has a brother or sister in Christ or a misguided preacher told you that if you are a Christian you cannot fear and have faith because they are total opposites? The problem with foolish statements like that is we are human and humans have emotion and fear is an emotion. You do not have to choose to live in fear that takes control of your life because you can trust God to be with you in all circumstances, but the emotions of fear, love, jealousy, greed are natural emotions which God allows into our lives.  

For practical purposes fear is the enemy of hope and IS the opposite of faith, but we have to deal with reality. There will be times in life when we will all side with one or the other fear/faith. Fear can be good. One of the first things I was told when arriving in Vietnam was fear those that claim they do not fear for they will get you killed. Faith can be misplaced at times for instance taking literally we can move mountains with our words of faith. If you have FAITH you do not need to live in fear that paralyzes you from moving forward or taking a chance you know you should take. The faith I want and I want you to have is the God-given strength to face down uncertainty and doubt and move forward down the path He is leading us.

Fear will keep you from living the life God created you for. It will keep you up at night with thoughts of facing the new day without the courage to change and fear will rob you of opportunities. We were not meant to live in fear, but fear can be so paralyzing it can be hard to imagine rising up from beneath it. We know as Christians we shouldn’t feel the way we do and can be determine to overcome it, only to find ourselves frozen over and over again in fear.

Faith is the answer for common fear. Faith is an action word, a verb. Faith is so much more than a simple belief. We read in James 2:20,” …faith without action is useless.” The more active our faith becomes the less confining our fear will be.  Little steps of faith each day snowball into a dynamic and rich faith that helps us face fear when it comes and it will come.  

Before you start lecturing Christians on fear and faith think about this. A Christian man was crucified by a jihadist group which took control of Yemen’s southerly province of Abyan. The man was crucified on an electric pylon. His bloated corpse showed that the body had been there for several days in the hot middle-eastern sun. A sign above his head stated that those ‘who wage war’ against Allah and the Prophet Mohammed ‘shall be killed or crucified.’ Are you as brave and faithful as you thought you were?

Faith says you may be able to kill me but God can give me eternal life. Faith says I may have to live alone, or walk alone, but I am not lonely because God is my security, God is my companion, and when I am alone, I can commune with God because He surrounds me. Faith says you can take the house, the car, and the job, but God provided them in the first place and, just as He provided them before, He can provide them again. Faith can win over fear, but you must remain focused on God at all times and I am not saying it will always be easy. God did not promise easy He only promise to be with us at all times.

I recently was reminded while dealing daily with health issues, 5 hour brown outs and 12 plus hours of no running water in Davao, Philippines that despite all the suffering that Paul endured, he understood that there was a bigger picture. Looking at that big picture and not focusing on our problems can allow us to feel peaceful even though the waves are crashing around us. What seem to be major daily problems to me did not seem to bother my Filipino neighbors. I discovered that I had begun to walk by sight and not by faith and was allowing the problems I saw rob me of God’s peace.  I was focusing on things (inconveniences) and not God.

It is easy to live in fear today with all the uncertainties we face – fear of economic collapses, fear of terrorist attack, fear of drive by shootings, fear of losing our jobs, fear of having costly medical bills, fear of running out of money before we die, etc. We have gotten so used to living with anxiety and fear that we sometimes forget that there is an answer.  I’ve discovered as my faith increases my fears and anxiety decreases. My faith increases when I focus on God!

I would like to throw in a little non-theological thought to cause us that were born and raised in First World Western Countries to possibly think about another cause of our fear. I have witness the differences first hand in the Third World Countries I have live in among the people. If Western people had something more to live for than materialism and entertainment then we could overcome the fear of hard economic times easier. But, for most Westerners, “building a life” means buying a home, building up a bank account and accumulating as big a pile of possessions as possible. When the good times are gone, very large percentages of Westerner totally lose it and think that life is not worth living anymore.

What about you? Are you going to give in to fear or are you going to have something to live for when and if that day arrives?

I can promise you every individual living today will have to decide how they will respond to the fears we face in our world today. I hope all Christians reading this will remember our Savior Jesus was not a coward he walked boldly into Jerusalem knowing He was about to be crucified. The strength of the Father gave Jesus His strength and He will give us our strength in difficult times. God did not promise us easy He only promised to be us in good and bad times.

I know it is easy to say do not fear and often hard to accomplish it, but faith can ease fear. If you can trust God in good times you can trust God in bad times. We will live in uncertainty in this world, but we do not have to live in constant fear. The degree of fear we have is a choice we make and depends on the amount of faith we have.

Is your Christianity worth you dying for – thousands are dying around the world for Christianity – for their faith. I would imagine the Christians in Kenya, Iraq and Syria are wondering what Christians in First World Countries really have to fear.  

Teachings of Pope Francis - Part V

Our goal is not to proselytize but to listen to needs, desires, disappointments, despair and hope. We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future and spread love. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.

You cannot know Jesus without having problems. We only come to know Jesus on the daily path of life … in order to know Jesus; we need to enter into a dialogue with Him. If you don’t pray, you don’t know Him.

What will my cross be like? We do not know, but there will be a cross and we need to ask for the grace not to flee when it comes.

Faith contains the memory of our encountering God.

A people who do not take care of their elderly and their children have no future. The only commandment which brings with it a blessing is the fourth, the commandment which regards honoring our parents and the elderly.

God is in every person’s life even if the life of a person has been a disaster. You must try to seek God in every human life. There is always a space in which the good seed can grow.

Charity is simple: worshiping God and serving others.

Let us respect creation, let us not be instruments of destruction! Let us respect each human being. May there be an end to armed conflicts. May hatred yield to love, injury to pardon and discord to unity. Let us listen to the cry of all who are suffering and who are dying because of violence.

We can all flee from God. This is a daily temptation: not to listen to God, not to hear His voice, not to hear His promptings His invitation in our hearts.

Are you able to find the Word of God in the history of each day or do your ideas so govern you that you do not allow the Lord to speak to you?

Today let us all ask ourselves do I remain caught up in forms of material security, taking refuge in my own projects and plans. Do I truly let God into my life?

God asks us to be faithful to Him in our everyday life, even if we are sometimes unfaithful to Him, He remains faithful to us. He never tires of stretching out His hand to lift us up, to encourage us to come back and tell Him of our weakness, so that he can grant us His strength.

Saying “thank you” is such an easy thing and yet so hard! How often do we say “thank you” to one another in our families? These are essential words for our life. “Sorry,” “excuse me,” “thank you” - If families can say these three things, they will be fine. How often do we say “thank you” to those who help us. All too often we take everything for granted! This happens with God. It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but do we thank Him.

God invites us to pray. Prayer makes us feel God’s presence. Persevering prayer is the expression of faith in God.

If money and material things become the center of our lives they seize us and make us slaves.

The Kingdom of Heaven is for those who do not place their security in material things, but in love for God.

 

Teachings of Pope Francis - Part IV

Do we really believe in love for God and for others?

Think about making a world of goodness, beauty and truth. You can do this, you have the power to do it. If you do not do it, it is because of laziness.

We should ask the Lord for the wisdom of discernment. Many believe they live in light but they are in darkness and are unaware of it! Where Jesus is there is always humility, meekness, love and the Cross.

Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Violence and war are never the way to peace! Open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation. Rebuild the harmony that has been shattered.

God's world is a world where everyone feels responsible for the other. Is this the world that we desire?

How can we bear witness? How can we forgive? How can we not hate our neighbor? How can we avoid gossiping? Think upon Jesus' suffering.

Let's all think of a person with whom we are annoyed, whom we are angry, someone we do not like. Let us pray for this person and let us become merciful with this person.

Let us pray our leaders will govern us well.

We cannot serve two masters - you cannot serve both God and money. It just doesn't work. May the Lord help us all to not fall into the trap of idolatry of money.

Let us overcome our fear of getting our hands dirty so we can help those in need.

Have complete trust in God and in His mercy. This is the power of prayer! Let us never tire of knocking at God's door. Every day let us carry our cares to God in prayer.

Solidarity is a word that bothers us because it requires us to look at another and give our self to another with love.

We cannot follow Jesus on the path of love unless we first love others, unless we force ourselves to work together, to understand each other and to forgive each other. We must do works of mercy and charity with love.

Sometimes we find arrogance in serving the poor! Some exploit the poor for their own personal interests and their own vanity. It would be better if these people stayed at home!

People can't and mustn't be lacking in hope, hope is part of your being.

Difficulties must not frighten you but on the contrary spur you to go beyond them. Following Jesus is demanding, it means not being satisfied with small goals but aiming on high with courage!

Go out of yourselves. Open your heart to brotherhood, to friendship and to solidarity.

Let's stay united in prayer. Saints are ordinary people who instead of complaining let down their nets for a catch. They look for opportunities.

Let God write our history.

Teachings of Pope Francis - Part III

Every Christian is called to be a bearer of hope that gives serenity and joy. We first must experience the joy of being consoled by God then we can bring joy to others. This is important if our mission is to be fruitful: we must feel God's consolation and pass it on to others!

Today no one in our world feels responsible - we have lost a sense of responsibility for our brothers and sisters. The culture of comfort, which makes us think only of ourselves, makes us insensitive to the cries of other people. It even leads to the globalization of indifference. We have become used to the suffering of others: it doesn't affect me, it doesn't concern me, it is none of my business! We are a society which has forgotten how to experience compassion.

Young people are the window through which the future enters the world. We must give them space. We have to create the material and spiritual conditions for their full development. We have to pass on to them lasting values that make life worth living.

The young have the strength and they do the carrying and the elderly are the ones who give life's wisdom. We do the elderly an injustice when we set them aside as if they have nothing to offer us. We need them both.

Anyone who is a man or a woman of hope - the type of hope which faith gives - knows that even in the midst of difficulties God acts.

Christians should be joyful, they should not be gloomy. Christians cannot be pessimists! They do not look like someone in constant mourning. If we are truly in love with Christ and if we sense how much He loves us, our hearts will "light up" with a joy that spreads to everyone around us.

Regardless of our difficulties. Regardless how great they may seem, God never allows us to be overwhelmed by them. Always know in your heart that God is by your side. He never abandons you! God is our hope! Les us maintain a positive outlook on reality.

If we want life to have real meaning and fulfilment "Put on faith." "Put on faith," Put on hope," "Put on love."

Do not water down your faith in Jesus Christ. Take care of the two ends of the population: the elderly and the young. Read the Beatitudes and read Matthew Chapter 25 it is the standard by which we will be judged.

Where does Jesus send us? He sends us to everyone. The Gospel is for everyone. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of your life. He wants everyone to feel the warmth of His mercy and love.

Young people, Jesus Christ is counting on you! The Church is counting on you! The Pope is counting on you!

I ask you is your heart filled with desire or is it a closed heart, a sleeping heart, a heart numb to the things of life? Where is your treasure, what are you longing for? Jesus told us: where your treasure is, there will be your heart. Do you wish to do good to others, to live for the Lord and for your brothers and sisters?

We are to go forward in life with love, with the love the Lord has sown in our hearts. God's love has a name and a face: Jesus Christ. Love for God is manifest in Jesus. It is a love that gives value and beauty to everything else. God in Jesus always opens us to hope.

If there is no hope, we are not Christian.

Following Jesus means being involved.

Following Jesus entails giving up evil and selfishness and choosing good, truth and justice, even when this demands we sacrifice.

Becoming acquainted with other people and other cultures is always good for us, it makes us grow. If we isolate ourselves we cannot develop culturally. If we seek out other people, other cultures, other ways of thinking, other religions, we go out of ourselves and start that most beautiful adventure which is called "dialogue". Dialogue is very important for our own maturity, because in confronting another person, confronting other cultures and confronting other religions in the right way, we grow, we develop and mature. It is impossible for peace to exist without dialogue.

In our day we pass in front of so many doors that invite us to come in, promising a happiness which later we realize lasts only an instant. Let's not be afraid to cross the threshold of faith in Jesus. Enter through Jesus's door.

Are you Christians by label or by the truth? Being Christian is living and witnessing to faith in prayer, in works of charity, in promoting justice, in doing good.

Teachings of Pope Francis

 

“Pope Francis simplicity, gentle spirit, openness, and humility are an inspiration not only to Catholics, but to people everywhere.  He invites us to live lives of truth and simplicity, to seek goodness and beauty, and to act with justice and mercy.  He challenges us to care for those who experience poverty, disaster, violence and, suffering, and to reach out with compassion to those who are most vulnerable.

He reminds us that every person is worthy of our giving, every person reflects something of God’s glory; every person is immensely holy and deserves our love.  Pope Francis is a gift to all people of faith.”  Susan Stark and Daniel J. Pierson – Reflections from Pope Francis

Think about God’s patience, the patience He has with each one of us?

We are people who, on the one hand want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat people with and condemn them.  Be a person of mercy!

It is not easy to entrust oneself to God’s mercy, but we must.  God says to us, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11).  The Lord never tires of forgiving us!  It is we who tire of asking Him for forgiveness.

Bring hope to others!

Being a protector means protecting all creation.  It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live.  It means protecting people and showing loving concern for each and every person.  It means caring for one another.  It means building sincere friendships.  We must be protectors of God’s gifts!

We are all responsible for our world.  We need to do all we can to promote justice, reconciliation and build peace.  A one-dimensional vision of man reduces human beings to what they produce and to what they consume.

Follow Jesus!  He accompanies us and carries us.  Do not let yourself be robbed of hope!  Jesus gives hope.

Are you really willing to serve and help others?

Do we think that we will not be able to cope?  Let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which God cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to Him.

Remember what God has done and continues to do for us.  Remembering the road we have travelled is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. 

God’s love for us is so great, it is an unfailing love, one which always takes us by the hand and supports us, lifts us up and leads us on.

God is patient with us because He loves us and those who love are able to forgive and do not give up.  God always waits for us even when we have left Him behind!

             Please take time to think about these things this week.