Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
Job_3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
We can surmise , that like faith, fear sets a course. For faith to operate, fear must be dispelled. They cannot co-exist. Job’s fear apparently was hidden, at least to himself. When the answer of fear came, Job knew what happened.
Did fear cause his calamity?
” There is a bona fide fear that is not sinful because of our human frailty. Then there is a fear that comes because we do not believe. The fear that comes upon us when we hear something is not a sinful type of fear. It is very normal, and by God’s grace it will not last long if we look at Jesus Christ. That is when the words from the lips of Jesus Christ are so beautiful. ‘Be not afraid only believe.'” Doctor Carl H Stevens.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1John_4:18
A woman had a blood issue , something that had plagued her for many years. Jesus was just passing by, but apparently her timing was just right. She encountered him as he passed. Her goal was to simply touch his garment and she caught the hem. Lo and behold , a strange phenomena took place. Something went out of the Christ and into her body. A heavenly blood clot occurred, but the lady, knowing she was healed, feared what Jesus might say.
Was he really a healer, or so religious that’s such things may be forbidden on certain days? Was it a problem that she touched him? Fear was obviously her frame of reference. She trembled.
“Her disease was by the Jews reckoned unclean Leviticus_15:25, and the woman was therefore unwilling to make personal application to Jesus, or even to touch his person. The disease was regarded as incurable. She had expended all her property, and grew worse, Mark_5:26.” Barnes notes
She could touch only the garment, but not the person — her preciseness was born of her fear.
But came the answer,
“Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. “
“What wondrous love is this? O my soul, o my soul! When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down. He bear the dreadful curse for my soul.” the song rings out.
So what does faith look like? In the case of this poor lady, faith looks like trembling, it looks like fear. A worried look, a dreadful disbelief , a disfigured posture, guilt and more. Nevertheless, something was driving the woman to put out her hand. Maybe the chance for love to supersede all, carried her to the brink of trying. More likely, she had come to her wits end . She dared, she reached, she touched, oh my goodness! Her dread peaked, a near panic.
” Daughter, thy faith has made thee whole, go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mark 5:14
Right after came the words to Jairus, who’s daughter was dying at another locale.” Be not afraid, only believe.” Jesus was headed toward his home next and he had overheard Jesus words to the desperate woman.
“We are down here on the earth, and we see everything under the sun, terrible things, going on consistently, day and night. Some of us do not like to turn on the news anymore because of what we see, the latest fire that killed somebody, the latest crime or murder, or whatever is going on. But here are the words of Jesus Christ, “be not afraid only believe.” C.H.Stevens
In closing, beloved, faith works not because of, but in spite of. Faith has an object , and that object is Christ himself. Can I conjure enough faith? We’re missing the point. Can I connect with the Faith giver? Yes.
I only disregard my ineptitude, lay aside my guilt, ignore for a moment my hurting, look past my mental block, struggle through my fear. It’s only Christ that I see, and there all my hope lies. Only believe. (Help my unbelief.) Love ya
