Fearless in time of need
With the recent events worldwide we may ask ourselves how do we overcome fear and danger? Certainly, this is not a new question as perhaps even Christ Jesus recognized the fear and danger of his own day -- and of what faced him directly with the upcoming crucifixion.
Christ Jesus' words on the cross point to his yielding to God and His power: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). To commend our spirit, our nature, our life, our very being, to God means to confidently trust God to deliver us in times of great need and fear. It means to allow Him to be in charge of us. And we do this by prayerfully learning to yield fear to trust in God. Yielding any fear we may hold in thought to complete trust and conviction in God and His power wipes out the fear and replaces it with the spiritual understanding of our relationship with God. This spiritual understanding is an awareness of God’s action in our lives. It is an alertness to His healing influence. It is ever-operable and tangible.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science, elucidates in her teachings that fear is often the so-called cause of sickness, sin, and death. She writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “When infringing some supposed law, you say that there is danger.This fear is the danger and induces the physical effects” (381:8).
The fear of sickness, sin, or death, or of a pandemic or even an economic implosion is the very danger we face and this fear brings on the effects we see on the body, whether physical, social, environmental, or financial. While this may seem backwards to some, nevertheless it is provable that fear brings its results rather than the results bringing the fear. Fear itself is the so-called culprit, not the breaking of a supposed physical law.
If this is true for the physical, social, environmental or financial bodies wouldn’t it also be true for societies, cultures, municipalities, states, nations, and countries? Fear of certain outcomes because of a supposed material or economic law being broken is what needs to be destroyed. Learning to prayerfully commend even these bodies to God will entrust our world and mankind to God with successful results. It may not mean that we don't experience the results of fear, danger, and economic downfall, just as Jesus did not avoid the crucifixion, but it does mean that when we commend our lives and livelihood to God we will be preserved and safe.
How do we do this? By turning thought to the Almighty, to God, and His power. His authority is above all. It is supreme. It is complete. It is even unchallenged because nothing can challenge the one, omnipotent power and presence. As we turn thought to God we are also simultaneously turning thought away from fear. Then we experience the power and presence of God. Turning thought to God means to watch every thought and determine whether it should be categorized as a thought from God, good, or from fear. If good, it is from God and it comes with power and authority. If based on fear it has no foundation and so it yields to the one and only power, -- God, good.
So, as we model our lives after our Master, Christ Jesus, let's lift thought spiritually, prayerfully, Christianly scientifically, and fear nothing. Let's be willing to give all to Christ prayerfully and in action.
Mrs. Eddy remarks “Divine Love is our hope, strength, and shield. We have nothing tofear when Love is at the helm of thought, but everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven” (Misc 113:24).
As God's child we each have "everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven" and we can have spiritual hope and strength and these are our shields in time of need.
