I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. 

Psalms 34:4

When I was little, my mom had a rattlesnake rattle in her top dresser drawer. It was kept in a gold ring box — a token from her teenage years living in New Mexico.  She and a group of friends were on the sand dunes near her home. She stepped off a rock and was confronted by an enormous rattlesnake coiled and ready. A boyfriend saved her and presented her with the rattle as a memento. 

I guess the rattle represented fond memories. For me, it was a way to be safely afraid. I would open the drawer, slowly open the box, look at the rattle, and shiver. Then I would hastily put everything back as it had been and run away.

When we get older, we tell ghost stories around the fire, and later, we watch scary movies. This time of year, people visit ghost houses and other creepy displays intended to get their hearts pumping.

I am unsure why we like to celebrate terror. But we do. Maybe it is the momentary thrill. We can be afraid and safe at the same time. 

In the era of COVID-19, however, fear takes on all kinds of new meaning. 

We are afraid for our health and the health of our loved ones. We fear for our country. The economy. Many people are nervous they can’t pay the rent or provide for their kids. We fear the future. 

God tells us again and again –- fear not. He calls on us to trust him and rest in the security of our relationship with him. 

But what happens when we simply can’t help but worry. Does it mean our faith is futile? 

Author Becky Thompson reassures us that fear is not failure.  In a recent article, What does the fear you feel say about your faith? , she says anxiety does not disqualify us as people of faith. 

You can feel fear and know God is in control.

You can feel anxious and know God is good.

Becky Thompson

“Because you are not what you feel, and sometimes our bodies don’t line up with what our spirits know is true.

What you are is a spirit who lives in a body—a broken body. Your brokenness might look different from others’. Your brokenness might manifest mentally or show up in your emotions or be a result of some physical dysfunction that you have no control over.

But make no mistake: You and I — and the rest of the entire world —live in broken flesh.”

OK, so what do we do about this?
We can’t fix the world. But we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the author of peace and perfecter of our faith. I know it is true, but it sounds like a great Sunday School answer. In the real world, it looks like getting up every day and placing one foot in front of the other. It means reading the Word and praying for peace, for resilience, for freedom from anxiety.

In the moment, there some additional things you can do:
• Practice stress reduction techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, or aerobic exercise.
• Shift your focus to the positive emotions in daily life: the fact that the sun is shining, that a friend called, or a recipe turned out well.
• Work on finding meaning and purpose. For example, someone who was once worried about buying groceries might volunteer at a food bank. 
• Get support from people you trust.
• Get outside!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. 

Isaiah 41:10

OK. Are you ready for Halloween? Ready for the election? Ready for life? Arm yourself with confidence that God won’t leave you in your brokenness. He walks with you through it all.