On a daily basis now, we all struggle with some form of fear which seems to be the unwanted “new normal”. This is exactly what the enemy wants us to focus on because it ultimately takes our eyes off of Jesus. However, this is also why the Lord has told us in Scripture so many times, DO NOT FEAR! It is not just a nice reminder or a way to calm down. It is a command!
Why would the Lord command us to not fear? And can we simply shift out of fear, like changing a gear in a stick shift car?! My answer is a resounding YES!
As I serve at Manna Market on the prayer team every week, I hear about troubles and fears that overwhelm our guests daily. They are crippling fears that are robbing these people of joy. This sounds to me like the enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy; yet, Jesus came to give us life and so we can live life more abundantly! (John 10:10)
So as I serve, listen, and learn about people’s troubles, I’ve discovered that all I need to do to help our guests is to help them “shift their perspective”.
If they are pointing out all the “bad”, I tend to remind them of all the good that God has done (and will continue to do) for them, simply because that’s who he is! It’s amazing to see their countenance change, their FAITH grow, and fear disappear!
On one particular occasion, one of our guests came to me for prayer like a “bad grocery list”. She was struggling with her finances, her husband lost his job, she had issues with her family, and she was very fearful of the coronavirus.
As the list kept flowing, I began to see with each mention of fear that there was room for hope.
When it was my turn to finally speak, I spoke encouragement into each one of her fears: “God has provided 5 boxes of groceries for you,” I told her. “Yes, travel isn’t possible at this time, but we live in a time where technology allows us to still connect and see each other’s faces…I believe God can help us solve our issues.”
With each fear, I pointed her to God’s love, provision, and protection so she could see herself as a woman who is seen and valued. Afterward she ended up saying, “Ha! I guess I am blessed! Thank you!” We prayed and she drove away, not only with a car full of groceries, but also with a heart full of hope!
BELIEVING is the key to shifting our perspectives. And sometimes God uses us to help people believe.
Faith needs room to grow, and we need to make intentional space for it to do so. Often this can be done by “counting our blessings” or by doing an act of kindness for someone else; even something as simple as listening to someone’s heart and pain can help shift our perspectives. As a result, fear will get stopped in its tracks! Then we can shift our focus off of the bad and get a fresh glance at our circumstances.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
Journal / Reflection Questions
- What is your faith perspective at this time?
- Are your actions / reactions fueled by fear or driven by faith?
- What is that one thing you can do this week to help others to see from another perspective?
Kasha Jankowski is a mom to two bigs and two littles and is originally from Poland and speaks three languages! She enjoys cultural diversity, food and music, and is even more passionate about loving God and loving people.