How to Handle Fear (Deut 3.24-25)
“O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon.”
Deuteronomy 3.24-25
I am impressed by people, who, in the midst of tragedy or suffering, can still see the goodness and blessings of God. I do not mean those who are in denial, “Oh, it’s not that bad: God is good” or those who have a Pollyanna attitude. Psychologists tell us that to properly deal with a difficult situation, we have to name it for what it is. Perhaps we have all been guilty of telling someone “this is all part of God’s plan,” or, worse, at the death of a loved one, “God wanted another angel.” Tragedy is painful. To pretend otherwise is to deny reality, and denying reality is not a healthy way to deal with pain.
When we suffer, our world tends to close in on us, and we lose perspective. We only see the pain, and so it appears that pain is all there is. This is not reality, and so not the healthiest way to make our way through suffering.
Somewhere between mindless positivism and overwhelming negativism is the proper attitude. There are many examples of this balance in the Bible; biblical characters who were able to keep the negative aspects of their sufferings and the positive aspects of life in perspective. Perhaps it is a combination of faith, God’s help, and maturity. Perhaps it is personality and upbringing. It is probably both of those and more. Regardless, this is the attitude to strive for when we are suffering.
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