Facing Fear

Tonight I received a phone call from a family member sharing deeply troubling news. The news was not new news necessarily – as a family we’ve often received that same kind of news at various and significant times in our journey as a family. Although the outcomes during these times were at times emotionally hard, the Lord has always led us, provided for us and comforted us. Indeed, it is a comforting thought to look back and know that the Lord is in control and He is good. In spite of that, however, this recent news still left me with the thought of, “Seriously, Lord??? Are we really here again???”

Not soon after this thought I was reminded of my time in the Word these past few mornings in Deuteronomy 1-4. As the time is nearing to head into the Promised Land, Moses is recounting the steps that led this people into their 40-year wilderness wanderings. It was a journey that was only supposed to be 11 days. Despite hearing the Lord’s promise of giving them this land, and the report from the scouts that the land was indeed all that the Lord said and more, the Israelites chose to make a decision based on what they could see – the seemingly mighty Amorites and the ever more terrorizing giants in the land – and they embraced fear.

Actually, I think the key word/phrase used here is the scouts became discouraged and in turn discouraged the rest of the Israelites with their report. In the Hebrew, to discourage or to lose heart is the idea of releasing the hand. A lose grip causes you to relinquish the surety of whatever was in your grip to begin with. The Israelites had the word of the Lord promising them this great land (surety). When their gaze fell upon the possibilities/circumstances that could prevent them from entering the land (loosened grip), they forgot the character of the God who promised the land in the first place (abandoned surety).

And after forty years of wandering…we’re here again. Have the circumstances changed? Seems that they still have to cross over into that land. Seems that the Amorites and the giants are still there. Seems that the potential to lose heart in face of those circumstances is still very real. And yet the God who promised the land in the first place is unchanged – He’s still in control and He’s still good: “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you this past 40 years, and you have lacked nothing” (Deut. 2:7). Even in their wandering, the Lord takes care of His kids.

So, in my family, yes, we’re here again. And while the circumstances seemingly haven’t changed, I am choosing to embrace the Lord and the courage He gives to walk into the unknown. And it is the prayer I am praying for my family tonight.