How to handle fear

 

Photos courtesy of Unsplash

In the last month, we have witnessed the coronation of King Charles the 3rd and the ongoing devastation taking place in Ukraine. In addition, the aggressive acts of violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces continue. Shootings and violent crime are a regular part of life in the UK, and in the USA, mass shootings have become the norm, with over 200 in 2023 to date. These events, plus so many more, have a devastating effect on people's lives. People's hearts are failing them for fear, as the 'old book' says, Luke 21. 26.

I often speak to older people. They tell me that they are frightened after they've watched the news. They're anxious. They're worried about what's happening in the world. How do the events that you watch on the news or hear about in your town or neighbourhood affect you? Life can be traumatising and frightening, and many people don't know how to handle or deal with fear and the problems they face.

Some fear is generated because of uncertainty; sometimes, it's because we're out of control, and often it's the pace at which things happen. The other reaction is to be blasé, stick your head in the sand and pretend that nothing is going on. These reactions are not confined to world events - this is how we often respond to events in our lives. It might be in respect of your health, your finances or a relationship. Sometimes we convince ourselves that things will never happen or nothing will ever get worse, but then the reality hits us, and what we dreaded is happening.

Would you die for a stranger?

On Wednesday the 19th. November 1997, the M.V. Green Lily ran aground on Bressay, near Grut Wick. After loading a cargo of approximately 3000 tonnes of frozen fish, bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Isles, the Croatian-born captain decided to set sail in foul weather, in spite of warnings from the Harbour Master not to leave the port at Lerwick, Shetland. Shortly after leaving the harbour, the ship suffered engine failure in a force 9 gale forecast to reach force 11 imminently and was left drifting in 50ft. waves, eventually running aground off Bressay.

20% of people in the UK admit to loneliness!

I discovered recently that ‘1 A national commission investigating loneliness in the UK in January 2017 showed that a fifth of the population privately admits they are "always or often lonely”’.

Herbert Van Zeller, 1905-1984, once wrote ‘the soul hardly ever realises it, but whether he is believer or not, his loneliness is really a homesickness for God’. That’s quite a statement. Loneliness is deeper than a lack of company and it affects people in all stages of life.

Facing our greatest fears - what coronavirus could do?

May I ask you a few questions:

1. Are you worried about the past?
2. Are you fearful about the future?
3. Are you not happy about the present?

Every list of people’s top worries has certain common items - money problems, health, getting old, relationships and death. It would be good not to worry but most of us do even if it’s only occasionally. 

At this moment in our nation, many people are worried. They fear the unknown! They are not sure what is going on? Who should they believe? How serious is this crisis?

The truth is - it is very serious and the potential for widespread disaster and indeed, death, is immense.

So please read and think about what I have to say today - you may regret not doing so one day.

Christians believe the Bible teaches why we are on this planet, why things go wrong and what’s important in life. The Bible teaches that the solution (salvation) is found in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the key summary statements from the Bible says this - ‘This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .’, 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 15.

We believe that the message of the Bible is vital and demands your attention. Everything else will only affect the ‘here and now’ but the gospel of Jesus Christ will also impact your ‘forever’. Listen to this promise found in John’s Gospel chapter 3 verse 16 ‘For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life’. I know that by now many of you may be tempted to discard what I say but give me a minute of your time. 

This is a great opportunity for you to discover the answers to the questions you ask yourself. There are answers, life is not meaningless, God created you for a purpose, BUT

We need a change in life!

We need past sins forgiven!

We need our future safety to be guaranteed!

I am not being melodramatic but we are all in danger. More of us are in danger of God’s judgment (punishment) for our wrongdoing than are in danger of COVID-19. It applies to all of us for ‘we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God’, (Romans 3.23, the Bible). What we have done might be different but none of us is perfect.

We know that the answer that is provided in the Bible works which is why we want to share it with you. 

Thanks for reading this post.

The Leavers Assembly

I have just had the privilege of attending the ‘passing out ceremony’ of a group of Year 6 boys and girls. It was their last day at Primary School and in six weeks or so they will be launched into the rather bigger world of secondary education. I say ‘passing out ceremony’ because that’s what it felt like. It was most enjoyable. They were celebrating what they had achieved and the people that they had become since they arrived in the school. Approximately seven years ago they faced a whole new world – some of them were anxious, many of them quite settled and happy but for all them they faced the unknown. Now they have to do it all over again! Life’s like that, as we all known only too well. We just seem to get comfortable; find our slot and then things change.