Let’s choose to be faith-filled in fearful days
Easter time has historically been a very festive time of the year. The beautiful flowers, the bright colors and the big crowds have marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This Easter, because of the worldwide COVID-19 challenge we are facing, the mood is not as festive. Our attention has been drawn away by this crisis. It is difficult to appreciate the beautiful flowers and the bright new fashions while hearing reports of people fighting for their lives. The closings of businesses and the restrictions on public gatherings have all but darkened the plans people routinely make to celebrate Easter. Yes, many have struggled over the idea of having an Easter celebration without being able to gather together for worship followed by the anticipated big family meal.
But celebrating Easter is not just about all the festivities of the season; it is about celebrating Christ, our risen savior. The mood around this Easter may be more somber than celebratory, but the message of Easter is just as strong as ever. What appears to darken the celebration of this season actually is just a backdrop that will be used to display the true message and essence of the Easter season.
The Bible records, in Matthew Chapter 28, the scene that unfolded on the very first Easter morning. The women who went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid arrived to discover it was empty. They were met there by an angel who gave them the most powerful message, the true message of Easter: Fear not. Fear had gripped the hearts of the people because of the circumstances they faced. The uncertainties of their day had gotten the best of them. Panic and worry had forced the disciples to scatter and drove them to a new life of isolation. In the midst of their panic, worry and anxiety, the powerful message of “Fear not” came to calm them, to center them, and to settle them.
Today we are gripped by that same emotion of fear. The uncertainties of our day have caused great panic and alarm. Our economy has suffered, travel has been halted, the majority of our nation is under a shelter-in-place order, the way we do life has drastically changed. Social distancing requirements have affected our presence both at the birth of children and at the death of loved ones. The message of the first Easter is the message we need to hear today: Fear not.
Fear can paralyze us and force us to focus on all the bad and none of the good. But the Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (NIV). We have not been given fear, but we have been given faith to fight our fears.
Faith that fights fear is a faith that helps us confront our fears. Fear is an emotion that everyone experiences. Healthy fear is our built-in alarm system, that alerts us to possible danger or when something may be wrong. Healthy fear can keep us from being hurt or hurting ourselves. Unhealthy fear creates panic and worry over imagined danger, things that have not happened.
In the book of Genesis, we see the first occurrence of this unhealthy fear. In Genesis Chapter 3, Adam disobeys God and is now hiding from God, the same God he once fellowshipped with. When God questions him, he admits he was afraid. Even in the story of Job we see the pain of unhealthy fear. In Job Chapter 3, after the news of all the tragedies was brought to him, he responds by saying, the thing I feared the most has happened to me.
Unhealthy fear has been defined by the acrostic False Evidence Appearing Real. This kind of fear is dangerous. Faith that fights fear is a faith that acknowledges the presence and potential of fear but does not allow fear to affect how we are acting or thinking.
This Easter, don’t let unhealthy fear cause you to totally shut down your life. Confront those fears with strong faith.
On the first Easter, the angel in Matthew 28 helped the women to confront their fears by speaking great words of faith. The angel proclaims in Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; for He is risen.” Faith that fights fear is faith that is strengthened by great messages of hope. Fear looks at the hurts; faith focuses on hope. Fear defines itself by the things that are against us; faith celebrates the God who is with us. Fear paralyzes us; faith empowers us. Fear calculates the losses; faith demonstrates the power of potential. Faith that fights fear focuses on hope.
The strength of this Easter cannot be weakened by any restrictions; this year’s Easter celebrations are strengthened by the creative ways we will not allow social distancing to create social and spiritual disconnections. Take time to find to slow down and appreciate the little things in life that make life so wonderful, the joy of friends, family and strong, healthy relationships. This Easter, in the midst of this pandemic, let us focus on the stories of people helping people. The uplifting, heroic acts of health care workers and first responders, risking their lives to keep others alive.
Celebrate your life. Celebrate love. Celebrate your faith. In these fearful times, let’s choose to be faithfilled.
The Rev. Jerome Barber is pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple in Hampton. He can be reached at jeromeb@smzbt.org.