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.

Background

The prayer in Deuteronomy 3.24–25 is part of the same passage as the previous prayer we examined in 1.11. It appears in the midst of the speech given by Moses to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He has recited the history of the people in the desert, reminding them of the dangers they encountered and how God saved them each time. The first prayer came at the beginning of the speech; this one is in the middle.

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Just before the prayer, Moses speaks of various kings who had opposed the people of Israel, and how God brought victory to his own. Now, on the verge of entering the Promised Land, Moses describes how the spoils, lands, and cities were going to be divided among the tribes. He reminds them that God does not want them to be afraid of those they will have to fight to get the land because He with them.

It would be understandable if the Israelites were afraid—they were poised to enter a large area of land and conquer the people who lived in it. Those people outnumbered the Israelites by a good amount. They were more experienced in battle, more vicious, and attempting to protect their land. Still, God tells his people not to worry because, if they follow His instructions, they will be victorious.

Meaning

But which of us would not be worried? Which of us would not be worrying about the coming days, weeks, or months of fighting and loss of life? Yet, Moses addresses none of those issues: instead, his prayer is a praise offered to God because He has “only begun to show” His greatness and might. In fact, Moses asks if he can be a part of it. He is eager to join the people in their battle.

Many years ago, during my doctoral studies, my wife and I became good friends with my Ph.D. mentor and his wife. About halfway through my dissertation, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. We watched the ups and downs, the good news and the bad news, and their struggles with surgery, healing, chemotherapy, and relapses. My wife and I marveled at their ability to name the suffering for the terror that it was, to share the difficulties and the fears, and yet still portray strength through their knowledge that God was sovereign. They did not say, “it’s all God’s will,” but neither did they blame God. They did not say, “Oh, we trust God,” but it was clear that they did.

They suffered in a quiet and dignified way. They never quit serving others, and they did not lose sight of the One who gave them life and promised them eternal life. After he died, his wife continued to be an example for us of strength in suffering, of proper perspective in the midst of real difficulties, while still acknowledging how difficult suffering can be.

Moses was no Pollyanna: he had shown his ability to be afraid, complain, and even lacked faith many times during the forty years in the desert. He was not naive about the forces arrayed against them. Yet, he could also focus on what God was telling them: trust Me. Like my mentors, he did not downplay the fears or the anxieties of the future, but he also kept in mind the fact that there is a larger reality.

In our times of suffering, in the midst of an uncertain and scary future, we should remember to pray in this way—even if we are afraid and unsure. To remember that God stands above it all. Even though there is no guarantee that the pain or suffering will go away, there is something more important than avoiding suffering. It is that God is over all, God loves you, and God’s plan works itself out eventually. In the worst of times, I find this a difficult task. But passages like this, and people like my friends, help me remember, and give me strength. I have found that offering prayers in that manner re-enforce the truth of that for me.

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Application

If you are suffering, try praying this prayer of Moses, or share it with someone who might benefit from it. Perhaps you might copy the prayer into your journal to remind you of this lesson when you are suffering or even just anxious about the future. Focus on the God who stands above all reality, and give Him thanks.