When Fear Takes Control
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
—Mark 4:38 NLT
Devotional
The disciples were not imagining the storm. The wind was real. The waves were real. Water
was coming into the boat, and these were experienced fishermen who understood the
danger they were facing. They had probably been through storms before, but something
about this storm convinced them that they were not going to survive.
Their problem was not that they noticed the storm. Their problem was that fear began
interpreting the storm for them. Fear looked at the wind, the waves, the water, and the sleeping Jesus and created a story: “We are going to die, and Jesus does not care.”
That is how fear works in our lives. Fear usually begins with something real. The relationship really is struggling. Money really is tight. Your child really is making decisions that concern you. The doctor really did find something. There really is uncertainty surrounding your job or your future.
Then fear takes what is true and begins writing an ending that it cannot possibly know.
“The relationship is struggling” becomes “I am going to end up alone.” “Money is tight”
becomes “We are going to lose everything.” “The doctor found something” becomes “My
life is over.” “My child is struggling” becomes “Their entire future is ruined.”
Fear takes a present threat and turns it into a predicted future. Then it asks us to begin
living today as if that prediction has already come true. That is when fear moves from
getting our attention to taking control.
Once fear takes control of the story, it begins shaping our behavior. We panic. We try to
control people. We make rushed decisions. We avoid conversations. We isolate ourselves.
We stay awake rehearsing every possible outcome. We keep checking our phones,
searching Google, or looking for one more piece of information that will finally make us feel
safe.
The disciples were not only responding to the storm around them. They were responding to the story fear had created within them. Their question reveals the real battle: “Jesus, don’t You care?”
Fear took a dangerous storm and turned it into a conclusion about the character of Jesus.
The storm was no longer simply telling them, “You are in danger.” Fear was telling them,
“Jesus does not care. He is not doing anything. You are on your own. This is going to destroy you.”
Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for recognizing the storm. He challenged them because
the storm had become greater in their minds than His presence in their boat.
Faith does not require us to deny what is happening. Faith does not look at water coming
into the boat and say, “There is no storm.” Faith looks honestly at the storm and says, “This
is real, but this is not the only thing that is real. Jesus is in the boat with me.”
The storm was real, but fear’s interpretation of Jesus was wrong. Jesus did care. The
disciples were not alone. The storm did not have the final word.
Examine the Story
What situation is getting most of your attention today? Be specific. Name the situation that
has been occupying your thoughts and creating fear.
What ending has fear attached to that situation? Has fear convinced you that you are going
to lose everything, that the relationship will never recover, or that you will not be able to
handle what happens next?
Now separate what you actually know from what fear is predicting.
What I actually know:
_________________________________________
What fear is predicting:
_________________________________________
Look at what you have written. The facts may describe what is happening, but fear’s
prediction is attempting to tell you how the story will end. Remind yourself that fear does
not know the future.
Today’s Faith Step
When fear begins predicting the future today, stop and say:
“That is a possibility, but it is not a promise. Jesus is with me, and fear does not know how
this story ends.”
You may have to say it more than once. Every time fear attempts to retell the story, bring
your mind back to what is true: the storm may be real, but Jesus is still in the boat.
Prayer
Jesus, help me recognize the difference between what is actually happening and the story
fear is telling me. I will not pretend the storm is not real, but I refuse to forget that You are in
the boat with me. Forgive me for allowing my circumstances to make me question Your
character. Let Your presence become greater in my mind than the threat in front of me. The
storm doe
—Mark 4:38 NLT
Devotional
The disciples were not imagining the storm. The wind was real. The waves were real. Water
was coming into the boat, and these were experienced fishermen who understood the
danger they were facing. They had probably been through storms before, but something
about this storm convinced them that they were not going to survive.
Their problem was not that they noticed the storm. Their problem was that fear began
interpreting the storm for them. Fear looked at the wind, the waves, the water, and the sleeping Jesus and created a story: “We are going to die, and Jesus does not care.”
That is how fear works in our lives. Fear usually begins with something real. The relationship really is struggling. Money really is tight. Your child really is making decisions that concern you. The doctor really did find something. There really is uncertainty surrounding your job or your future.
Then fear takes what is true and begins writing an ending that it cannot possibly know.
“The relationship is struggling” becomes “I am going to end up alone.” “Money is tight”
becomes “We are going to lose everything.” “The doctor found something” becomes “My
life is over.” “My child is struggling” becomes “Their entire future is ruined.”
Fear takes a present threat and turns it into a predicted future. Then it asks us to begin
living today as if that prediction has already come true. That is when fear moves from
getting our attention to taking control.
Once fear takes control of the story, it begins shaping our behavior. We panic. We try to
control people. We make rushed decisions. We avoid conversations. We isolate ourselves.
We stay awake rehearsing every possible outcome. We keep checking our phones,
searching Google, or looking for one more piece of information that will finally make us feel
safe.
The disciples were not only responding to the storm around them. They were responding to the story fear had created within them. Their question reveals the real battle: “Jesus, don’t You care?”
Fear took a dangerous storm and turned it into a conclusion about the character of Jesus.
The storm was no longer simply telling them, “You are in danger.” Fear was telling them,
“Jesus does not care. He is not doing anything. You are on your own. This is going to destroy you.”
Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for recognizing the storm. He challenged them because
the storm had become greater in their minds than His presence in their boat.
Faith does not require us to deny what is happening. Faith does not look at water coming
into the boat and say, “There is no storm.” Faith looks honestly at the storm and says, “This
is real, but this is not the only thing that is real. Jesus is in the boat with me.”
The storm was real, but fear’s interpretation of Jesus was wrong. Jesus did care. The
disciples were not alone. The storm did not have the final word.
Examine the Story
What situation is getting most of your attention today? Be specific. Name the situation that
has been occupying your thoughts and creating fear.
What ending has fear attached to that situation? Has fear convinced you that you are going
to lose everything, that the relationship will never recover, or that you will not be able to
handle what happens next?
Now separate what you actually know from what fear is predicting.
What I actually know:
_________________________________________
What fear is predicting:
_________________________________________
Look at what you have written. The facts may describe what is happening, but fear’s
prediction is attempting to tell you how the story will end. Remind yourself that fear does
not know the future.
Today’s Faith Step
When fear begins predicting the future today, stop and say:
“That is a possibility, but it is not a promise. Jesus is with me, and fear does not know how
this story ends.”
You may have to say it more than once. Every time fear attempts to retell the story, bring
your mind back to what is true: the storm may be real, but Jesus is still in the boat.
Prayer
Jesus, help me recognize the difference between what is actually happening and the story
fear is telling me. I will not pretend the storm is not real, but I refuse to forget that You are in
the boat with me. Forgive me for allowing my circumstances to make me question Your
character. Let Your presence become greater in my mind than the threat in front of me. The
storm doe
No Comments