Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
Our body has an in-built response to threatening situations that science calls the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is a psychological reaction that occurs in response to something that is terrifying, either mentally or physically. Fear and anxiety are part of this response. Both are very helpful responses when we are in real danger. However, most of the world today seems to be gripped by fear. A sense of helplessness due to our self-reliance has engendered more fear. Fear for our jobs, relationships, finances, future, health and many mundane things. We have become slaves to our in-built response, that is driving us to take control and react.
Why are you so afraid?
Has anyone ever asked you this question? Jesus asked it in Mark 4:40.
If you were in a boat, in the middle of a big storm, it seems like being afraid would be a natural response. The disciples would have perhaps been right had they responded to that question by saying – “Lord, but it’s just our ‘fight or flight’ response”.
Jesus did not give the disciples a shoulder shrug and accept that it was natural to be afraid; He expected more of those men. He expects more of His disciples (you!) because, if He is Lord of your life, then HE must be Lord over everything. He wants you to rely on Him and not on yourself and your natural responses.
He said to his disciples, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”.
We are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other of our fears are what scientists categorise as ‘learned’ fears. When presented with something scary (such as a snake) our response is determined by two paths to our brain. The ‘low road’ to our brain’s amygdala signals to our brain that this is something to fear. However, there is also a ‘high road’ to our brain’s higher cortical centre. The high road tells our brain “I have seen this type of snake before, and it’s harmless”.
Relying on God
Paul was a mighty apostle, he understood the principles of how God operates much better than many of us, yet it took him the experience(s) in Asia (2 Corinthians 1:9) to totally grasp the importance of relying on God and not on himself. God was rewiring Paul, to teach him to use the ‘high road’ more than the ‘low road’. A point Paul makes when he says “but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God” (2 Corinthians 1:9).
When David stood before Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-47) he must have exercised the ‘high road’ path to his brain; He confronted a giant of a man with these remarkable words – “it’s not by sword or spear that the Lord saves” (1 Samuel 17:47). Prior to this, the response from the entire army of Israel was fear (their natural response). This is a nation that experienced the saving hand of God in many impossible situations but still chickened out. David perceived the same threat through the lenses of his trust and reliance on his mighty God. He did not take ‘flight’ and hide, but he stood to ‘fight’, totally relying on God.
Our natural response must take a back seat
When it comes to relying on God, our natural response must take a back seat. We must learn not to rely on ourselves, but God. Paul was thought this lesson through his experiences in Asia. David knew this imperative very early on in his life.
Dear child of God, why are you so afraid? Relying on God is not a naive rosy sentiment; it is fundamental to the life of a disciple. It’s high time that you exercised the ‘high road’ to your brain. Don’t simply give in to your natural response. Don’t take flight, but stand and fight those fears that are weighing you down. Learn to totally rely on our mighty God!
