Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real

Trinity United Methodist Church's Podcast

The big bad wolf, the dark, the future, death – there are lots of things that we human beings are afraid of at various times in our lives. In the prehistoric tale of the beginning of humanity, we hear Adam, representing us all, confessing to God, “I was afraid…and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Some of our fears are valid. Some are not. There is healthy fear and there is fear that paralyzes our lives. Several years ago a New York psychiatrist named Harold Levinson wrote a book called Phobia Free. He asserted that 90% of our fears have a physical origin. Specifically, they are the result of an upset inner ear, which is treatable by medication. The next time we are really afraid, we should not consult a psychiatrist, but an ENT specialist!
Fear is interwoven throughout the stories of the Bible. The command to “fear not” is given 365 times – one for each day of the year. This being a leap year (yesterday was February 29), there is one day we can be afraid! Two of those encouraging commands are in this Sunday’s text, Isaiah 43:1-7.
Series: Handling Our Humanness
Second Sunday in Lent
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7
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