And the Worst That Could Happen?

What's the worst that could happen? I thought about that yesterday as I put pressure on my nose after it began to bleed for no apparent reason. I was having breakfast, and drip, drip. I had had recurrent profuse nosebleeds several years ago that were difficult to stop. Had to have a blood vessel cauterized because I was about to be put on a blood thinner due to a clot. Pain doesn't usually make me cry (I realize I haven't experienced great pain, but doesn't childbirth count?!), but when the surgeon numbed inside my nose, tears trickled down my face. I hope never to have that done again.

So the nosebleed yesterday brought back memories. I'm now on a lifetime blood thinner that at present has no antidote for patient prescriptions. My hematologist said we'd probably have one within the year. But this is now and the blood is flowing. For now I'm supposed to apply pressure and hold for thirty minutes. If that doesn't work, head to ER.  

Then my mind took off into what's the worst thing that could happen? Ever done that? My conclusion was that I'd bleed to death, one drop at a time. Then what? I'd be with Jesus! What a marvelous thought! 

Sometimes reading the last chapter first is a good idea.

Image via pixabay

CCO Creative Commons

From the Book Shelf ~ Running Scared

Recommending Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Edward Welch. It was required reading for a biblical counseling class, and I'm ever glad it was! Welch is writing from experience and wisdom. A brief excerpt from the preface:

Like most writing projects, this book is aimed squarely at myself. Although I can be angry or melancholy, I am a fear specialist. In this I have found that I am not alone. Not everyone is a fear specialist, but there is no doubt that every single person who ever lived is personally familiar with fear. It is an inescapable feature of earthly life. To deny it is...well...to deny it.

Welch discusses how natural fear and worry can be and shows us how to recognize it. He says there are themes that run through our fears, and he gives instruction on how to face them. Danger and vulnerability are key aspects, and this is where spiritual realities come to light. Welch shows us how to turn to God when fear and worry prevail, how we can find freedom and have peace reign in our hearts and minds.

I have only one negative about the book--I don't particularly like the cover design. Kind of petty, I realize. I had seen the book before, but I was put off by the cover. That was not a good decision. I would have missed Welch's deep insight. Goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. I should have looked beyond the cover because anything written by Ed Welch is a treasure trove of wise counsel. However, I would recommend a new cover design on the next edition. :-)

Illogical Fear

Sharing a few thoughts this evening from my Bible reading.

Fear can sometimes be debilitating. It can also be illogical.

We see fear played out in different forms in the account of Jesus and the demon-possessed man from the tombs of the Garasenes. Recall that this is when Jesus cast the demons out of the man and gave permission for them to go into a herd of swine. The swine ran down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned. (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-37; Matt. 8:28-34)

Fear ensued. Great fear. Illogical fear. When the townspeople heard what Jesus had done, it terrified them. Fear overcame them, and they wanted no part of this man Jesus who had released a demoniac man from torment and had set him in his right mind. Illogical. A rightful, compassionate act induced fear in the hearts of those who had no understanding of Jesus. It does the same today.

Yet there was no fear of Jesus in the demoniac man himself. When Jesus had stepped onto the Galilee shore, the demon-possessed man had run up to Him and bowed down before Him. He knew that Jesus was the only one who could free him. Others had tried, but were not powerful enough.

The man himself had not been afraid of Jesus. The demons in him were afraid, though, and begged Jesus not to torment them. They knew who He was and what He could do. He granted their request, and they went to the pigs. The man was now in his right mind and wanted to follow Jesus, not to be rid of Him, for he also knew what Jesus could do.

But... the townspeople and demons, both are terrified of Jesus. The townspeople, fearful out of ignorance. The demons, fearful out of knowledge. Fearful for different reasons, yet both are headed to the same eternal destination.

Jesus is to be feared, but not as the townspeople fear Him. He is God. Judgment is in His hand. But in the other hand is compassion and mercy. Fear of Jesus need not be debilitating. It is not illogical. Perfect love casts out fear. As Jesus cast the demons out of the man, He casts fear out of those who come to Him and bow down before Him. He casts off the fear that keeps them in bondage to their chains.

He says, "Come, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

I do hope that you have already come to Him, dear one. I hope to see you one day when I greet Him on Heaven's shore.

Image ~ Stiller Moment, Ernst Anders (1878)

public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Then What?

The Letter, William K.  Blacklock 1872-1924

We know that the dread of what might happen is often worse than what actually does happen. But sometimes what we dread does come to our doorstep. Then what? Charles Spurgeon gives such good counsel that I want to share his words with you today. I hope it encourages you as it did me when I read it this morning, to look upon what arrives with a lively hope.

Psalm 112:7

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess? Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do? Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

~ from C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotionals

You can read more of Spurgeon's Devotionals here
 

Wait and Do Not Fear

When I taught high school writing and speech skills, one of the areas we discussed was the use of fear to influence and persuade the reader or audience. It's an unethical tactic that involves exaggeration and/or lying. It's called fear mongering. We seem to be in a new era of media reporting--both media news and social media--that has embraced this form of "reporting." It's effective--people today are living in fear of "the other side." It's also wrong.

How do we respond in times like these? Shut down our news feed? I've found that it's good not to look as often, but I do want to be informed. Get angry? Okay, if it's righteous anger because of the wrongfulness of it and the damage it does. But I've learned that whatever is being reported may not be the way it really is, so I hold off awhile. I'm sure you've learned that also these past several months, particularly. It appears to be the purpose of the media to turn us against one another.

What we're seeing is an effort to save what is valued in life--on both sides. We also are seeing extreme fear coupled with extreme self-focus. Many people are afraid because what they want out of life may be altered or denied them. Many other people are afraid of what these people may do to them if they get it.

In my lifetime, there have been presidents whose programs, personalities, or perverted views I have disdained. But I have not lived in fear or reacted as many are doing today. I think that probably some of you who read this may feel the same way. God calls me to not be fearful because He gives peace.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; 

not as the world gives do I give to you. 

Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 14:27

My faith is in God, not in man. God is sovereign and will have His purposes fulfilled. I eagerly anticipate what He may be doing in America in spite of all the raucous and cacophonous chaos.

And so I watch and expectantly wait. I do hope you know Him, and are watching and waiting as well.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

Psalm 37:7-8

God Is Our Refuge

This week during lunch I've been listening to Nancy Leigh DeMoss online at Revive our Hearts. Her current series is on Psalm 46 entitled A Mighty Fortress is Our God. I'd like to share a brief excerpt with you from yesterday's program, "Are You In Trouble?" It's a quote from Matthew Henry.

Are we pursued? God is our refuge to whom we may flee and in whom we may be safe. . . . Are we oppressed by troubles? Have we work to do and enemies to grapple with? God is our strength to bear us up under our burdens, to fit us for all our services and sufferings; he will by his grace put strength into us, and on him we may stay ourselves. Are we in distress? He is a help, to do all that for us which we need . . . a help sufficient, a help accommodated to every case and exigence [every emergency, every extreme situation]; whatever it is, he is a very present help; we cannot desire a better help, nor shall ever find the like in any creature.

Today's program is "When You Are Battered By Fear." If you'd like to listen in to the series or read the transcripts, you can find them here.