Jesus says, "Fear Not." Like never??

Does Jesus Really Expect Us to Fear Not?

Years ago, as a youth leader, I went on a caving activity. The entrance to the cave was extremely narrow. We had to enter one at a time, lie on the ground, put one arm up and one arm down to narrow our shoulders and shimmy through what they called “The Birth Canal.” It was aptly named.

As someone with claustrophobia, this was panic inducing for me. My heart was racing so fast, I thought I might have a heart attack. Our guide was coaching me and encouraging me, but all I could think was, “Get me out of here, NOW!”

A few years later, the cave was filled in and shut down. Someone perished in the cave despite heroic efforts to remove him.

Looking back, I feel like my body knew something my mind didn’t, You in danger, girl!

My claustrophobia manifests at other times too. While sitting in the backseat of a car, while stopped in an airplane with the door closed, when I can’t remove my jewelry fast enough. In none of these scenarios am I truly in danger. But my body doesn’t seem to know that. It’s pulling up a memory.

There’s a name for these two different fears. Warranted fear is a fear that is trying to protect from a real and present threat. Anxiety is a fear that is trying to protect from a perceived and past threat.

When Peter walked on the water and began to sink, we often say it was because he was lacking in faith.

I don’t agree. I think he was experiencing anxiety.

Was Peter in danger? No. He had already been walking on the water before he began to sink. It was when he noticed the wind, the waves, saw how far he was from the boat, that he began to fall. It was like his body was saying, “This should be a dangerous situation. You need to be afraid.” Peter calls out, “Lord save me.”

How did Jesus react?

Let’s first look at what Jesus DIDN’T do. He didn’t say,

or

or

Jesus’ reaction was immediate. He reached out his hand for Peter and lifted him up. Once Peter was safe and calm, he then questions him, why did you doubt?

The explanation waited. The hand did not.

He caught Peter first. He talked to him after.

Does Jesus really expect us to never be afraid? Of course not. Our bodies are built to experience fear. But he doesn’t want us to fear something that isn’t actually a threat. But like the bumper sticker says, “Jesus Saves.”

He will reach for us before he’ll reason with us.

Wishing you a great Sabbath,

Heather Ruth Pack

Continue the Study

The Bible uses fear in three distinct ways.

· Filial fear — the deep love and reverence we are meant to have for God.

· Slavish fear — the fear of punishment that comes from guilt.

· Carnal fear — the fear that comes from the sympathetic nervous system.

When we feel carnal fear, our body is on autopilot. Blood moves away from the logical frontal lobe and toward the reactive amygdala. Heart rate spikes. Digestion stops. Pupils dilate. Our body is ready for fight, flee, freeze, or submit.

Carnal fear is not a malfunction. It is a gift.

Gavin De Becker, author of The Gift of Fear, argues that most people—women especially—silence these signals to avoid seeming rude or overreacting. We put ourselves in dangerous situations and ignore what our body is trying to tell us.

Fear isn’t the problem. Lack of faith isn’t the problem.

The problem is anxiety—a fear that pulls from memory not reality. It says this situation resembles something dangerous rather than this situation is dangerous.

Peter wasn't drowning. His body recognized waves and wind and distance from the boat and said: this should be dangerous.

When Jesus says "fear not" throughout the gospels, I don't think he is telling us to silence our warning system. I think what he’s saying is, your body is experiencing a perceived threat, there is no threat here. You are safe.

Fear, the real kind, is worth listening to.

Question to Ponder

When have you found yourself anxious rather than afraid—and what finally helped your body discover what was actually true?

From My Study Desk

If you enjoyed this newsletter, the Line Upon Line devotional series is where I do this kind of close reading from the Book of Mormon—one or two verses at a time, connected to our modern life. Volume 1 is free to download. ​ ​ Download Now

About Times of Faith

Times of Faith explores the historical world of scripture, the language behind the text, and the voices often overlooked in familiar biblical stories.

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