Day 7: Fear Not

In the 23rd Psalm, David wrote:

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.…

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff reassure me. (NET)

There are three things sheep do that I aim to learn from. First, sheep universally move toward the light and away from darkness whenever given the chance. Most people don't realize that sheep have relatively good night vision. Given that they can see fairly well in the dark, it seems they might tend to stray into darkness more often. But, they avoid it and that's probably a good lesson for us (Eph 5:6-14).

Second, when startled, sheep flock to those they trust…including the shepherd. They trust the shepherd and follow where he leads. Out of this trust they expect good things when they hear his call. This trust allows them to accept the gentle correction of the shepherd's staff. Fear subsides when we are focused on the shepherd.

Third, their feeling of security is based on instinct and past experience with the shepherd, not intellect and self-reliance. I doubt the average sheep has any personal knowledge of the local predators…It's not like they've met before. Further, I doubt sheep can do the calculus of their weaponized capability against potential predators. Maybe they think about these things. But, I doubt it. No, I believe they act upon their natural senses and their personal experiences with the shepherd to know whether they are secure or not. Similarly, I aim to increase trust in my new nature, trust the Holy Spirit living in me, and decrease reliance on the intellect of myself and others. If you trust Him, He’ll show Himself to be trustworthy.

If you think of a shepherd's “rod and staff” as tools for discipline, then the comfort of Psalm 23:4 will be lost. Yes the shepherd's rod wards off predators with brutal force. But, it is never used to beat sheep. Striking would result in fear, they would not forget, and the sheep would likely not follow again. The rod and staff is used in counting the sheep, inspecting the wool, nudging/guiding, and occasionally for pulling the sheep out of trouble. But, the most subtle use is as a reminder of the shepherd's presence and attention. Its soft touch reminds the sheep that the trusted provider is very near.

How do each of the following passages help detail either side of the trust-analogy between sheep/shepherd and believer/God?

• John 3:16-21

• Proverbs 3:5-12

• John 10:2-5

• Psalms 71:1-17

• Psalms 145:18-20

• Proverbs 9:10

Fear is an emotion we can all relate to. From subtle trepidation to sheer terror, it is a regular companion, though mostly unwelcome. Have you ever considered how incredibly beneficial this emotion is? It serves the essential role of mobilizing us to deal with danger. Scientific investigations find that most of our fears are learned and culturally reinforced. Among the most important things we can learn in life is which situations and events represent danger or threat. Curiously, our reason should lead us to value fear, yet most of us treat it solely as an enemy. Self-help and inspirational literature is awash with methods to rid your life of fear. Because imagination fuels fear, some falsely claim it is merely an illusion. Fear, however, seems real enough, and like all emotions, it is a gift from God. This gift is meant to reveal anything that hides in the shadows and to mobilize us into the light.

Life In His Presence