Fear Not

“Don't be afraid!" Moses replied. "God has come only to test you,

so that by obeying him you won't sin."

Exodus 20:20

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly 13 percent of American adults have experienced a phobia — a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Common phobias include claustrophobia (the fear of enclosed areas), aviophobia (the fear of flying) and one of the biggest of them all: glossophobia (speaking in public). You also wouldn’t be alone if you suffer from galeophobia (the fear of cats) or even coulrophobia (the fear of clowns). And what about folks diagnosed with panophobia? They’re afraid of everything!

Christ-followers aren’t immune from phobias. In fact, some suffer from

zeusophobia — the fear of God. But to be fair, it’s more accurate to say that they’re afraid of saying yes to him. One reason is that we too often think of God as a cosmic consultant offering well-intentioned suggestions rather than the all-knowing Creator who made us, loves us and wants only the best for us. Saying no to God is the most basic definition of sin. And mankind has been doing just that since the earliest days of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

We know in our heads and in our hearts that God loves us. In fact, he loves us so much that he sent his only Son to die in our place to pay for our transgressions. So with this in mind, why would anyone say no to God?

First, saying no and playing it safe is a basic human instinct. Fleeing from danger (real or perceived) makes perfect sense when we consider our innate desire for self-preservation. We can also refuse God when he calls us to do something uncomfortable or inconvenient. Maybe it’s helping a neighbor who’s between jobs, driving a shut-in to the grocery store or talking with a co-worker who’s reached a spiritual crossroads. Taking that first step can be awkward, difficult — and even scary.

Selfishness is likely the biggest reason that so many people are afraid to say yes to God. After all, it usually means saying no to us. But be forewarned: When we decide to turn our backs on our Creator, we need to prepare for a certain level of spiritual turmoil. God knows what he wants and how he wants to do it. So it’s only fitting that we’ll find ourselves in a much worse situation than if we had just said yes in the first place. As the saying goes, sometimes we need to feel the heat before we can see the light. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

“God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him,” the Apostle Paul assures us through the Book of Romans. “Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.”

Do you have that common phobia of saying yes to God? Fear not!