In this contemporary society, while we benefit from scientific advancements in every aspect of our lives, we harbor a fear of doing good, as it has become an anomaly among individuals. Engaging in malevolent actions is considerably simpler, as we conform to societal norms where no one intervenes to highlight our transgressions, given that everyone seems to partake in similar behaviors. Conversely, when an individual aspires to enact goodness, others perceive him as unworthy of existence. In essence, standing for the truth in a world increasingly inclined toward falsehood renders what is false appear as truth, while the truth itself is portrayed as a lie. Children of God, who habitually engage with the Word of God—the ultimate truth—often find themselves swayed by worldly deceptions, as the illumination provided by the Word of God seems inconsequential, leading to a loss of interest in true engagement with His teachings and a tendency to merely skim through them superficially. This prevailing trend prompts a pertinent question: is our reluctance to embrace the truth revealed in the Word of God a matter of personal interest, or is it the fear of societal repercussions that inhibits us?
Causes of Fear
There exist certain objects and situations that may induce fear in individuals. The lizard, a typically harmless creature commonly encountered in domestic environments, feeds on insects. Yet, some individuals harbor an irrational fear of this small being, lacking any substantial justification for their apprehension. Similarly, wild animals and snakes evoke fear in many. Heights can provoke unease, resulting in feelings of nervousness and dizziness; additionally, the prospect of flying can be intimidating for some. Furthermore, certain individuals refrain from utilizing elevators due to their fears.
Anticipating upcoming events induces fear in certain individuals. Until the event transpires, anxiety permeates their thoughts. Consequently, individuals conjure scenarios in their minds, leading to a lifetime spent in expectation of something bad to happen. While environmental threats may indeed be tangible and evoke fear, the most common and pervasive fear is that of the unknown. When faced with uncertainty, individuals often experience anxiety and fear, which not only impact their own well-being but also affect those around them.
The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town. – Ecclesiastes 10:15 (NIV)
When the destination is unknown, it engenders fear, prompting individuals to seek various means to arrive at a place, despite lacking clarity on their intended path. Conversely, knowing the destination provides a clear sense of direction. In contemporary society, many individuals experience fear and anxiety due to uncertainty regarding their existence after life on Earth. This apprehension often leads people to construct their own interpretations to alleviate their concerns. Consequently, they adhere to religious doctrines in pursuit of spiritual principles, mistakenly deeming the religion itself as the ultimate destination. However, these practices instill greater apprehension in the minds of devotees rather than alleviating the fear of unknown.
Our Provider
God serves as our ultimate provider, having created us with a comprehensive awareness of our needs. Our difficulties arise when we become preoccupied with our requirements, neglecting to comprehend God and to know Him in a holistic manner. Upon creation, God endowed man with all necessary provisions, even prior to his acknowledgment of such needs. This pattern of God’s mercy continues to be present in our lives, yet we remain burdened by anxieties that accumulate within ourselves.
Leaving asides our daily essentials, if we understand how God redeemed us from the eternal death and provided us with eternal life, which we had lost long ago because of disobedience, It may help us to put our complete trust on Him. When we fail to adhere to this first and basic step of faith in our lives, then we rely on other sources to find out our future which is unknown to us. God rebukes us through His prophet Isaiah for seeking people’s intervention to know our future.
Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,
tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless;
whoever chooses you is detestable. – Isaiah 41:22-24 (NIV)
We are not fundamentally different from King Saul, who demonstrated a lack of interest in knowing God and adhering to His commandments, instead seeking to ascertain his future through divination (1 Samuel 28:8-19). God conveys that He holds our future, urging us to place our reliance in Him. However, we often fail to grasp this straightforward truth, choosing instead to depend on man-made resources that ultimately lead us away from Him. In the absence of a clear understanding of our true destination, fear compels us to pursue various avenues to alleviate our anxieties, which, in fact, tend to exacerbate them. We turn to religion and numerous pilgrimage sites, mistakenly believing that these will confer holiness upon us, yet we find ourselves becoming unholy with each passing day. As the majority of spiritual leaders adhere to doctrines crafted by human hands, they fall short in comprehending God in His entirety and, consequently, are unable to facilitate a genuine connection between individuals and the Father God. When individuals distance themselves from God, fear prevails (Genesis 3:8) and attempts are made to conceal oneself from the presence of God.
God is fully aware of our circumstances, and for this reason, He continually encourages us not to succumb to fear. He has assured us of His guidance and provision until we ultimately return to Him. Through the Holy Spirit, which He has bestowed upon us, we are able to reach out to our Father God, where we will exchange the provision of forgiveness of sins granted to us by God for the gift of eternal life.
Let Go Our Fears
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.- 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
If we associate ourselves with various prayer meetings, conventions, and conferences that aim to fill us with the Holy Spirit to lead a fearless and peaceful life, it raises the question of why we still succumb to various threats and anxieties that lead us to depend on spiritual icons for relief from fear and insight into our future. Fear persists until we understand that God has provided His Spirit to safeguard our salvation even before we sought it. At the start of the New Year, we receive numerous promises, and during Good Friday and Easter, we endeavor to attain holiness through fasting and prayer. However, in the midst of life’s challenges, we often contemplate various options presented by spiritual leaders to alleviate our burdens. Due to the stress we experience, we tend to forget the promises made at the year’s beginning and seek human intervention to gain clarity about our future.
To grind again what has already been ground is an idiom that highlights redundant efforts. Once we have been freed from our sins, we are still stuck with redundant prayer and religious performance and do not want to do what God desires, or to accomplish the purpose for which we have been freed from our sins. The author of the book of Hebrews asks us to move forward leaving such redundant acts or performances.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. – Hebrews 6:1-2 (NIV)
Jesus, having come to this earth to reconcile us with His Father, bestowed His Spirit upon us, enabling us to address God as “Abba Father.” In light of this true connection, one must question the roots of our fear. Such fear indicates a failure to embrace the relationship with God, that has been made possible through His Son, Jesus, while still clinging to the rituals akin to those of the Pharisees and Sadducees during Jesus’ time. Although relinquishing these practices and the influence of self-proclaimed spiritual authorities may initially induce unpleasant feeling, this transition ultimately liberates us from fear. In essence, we allow fear to take hold and impede our growth into fearless children of God.
Counterproductive and superfluous rituals may lead individuals to believe in a misguided hope of resurrection; however, abandoning such practices will enable God to grant life to our souls after the cessation of our mortal existence. It is imperative that we discard these redundant rituals and advance toward the pursuit of eternal life, for which we have been liberated from our transgressions and hollow acts of worship. Presenting ourselves as pious individuals will not contribute in any significant manner to the preservation of our souls, which have been emancipated from all that obstructs our progress.
To eliminate the enduring fear that resides within us, asserting and adhering to the following Scriptiure is the sole path forward.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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