Fear motivates us to seek safety but does safety drive away fear? As someone who has had her share of anxiety I don’t believe it does. Despite the reality of being safe the fear of the unknown or even the possibility that something terrible could happen can keep us from finding comfort. Throughout Scripture we are reminded of the safety and comfort found in God, and yet when confronted with the presence of God time and time again the characters of the Bible respond with fear.

“Life is so beautiful. Life is so hard.” That phrase has stuck with me this week. It was taken from Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me. The author, faced with her own mortality, is questioning the prosperity gospel’s definition of blessed. I used to believe there was no harm in this treatment of Scripture, though I did not hold it I didn’t see it as hurtful, until faced with our own family’s health crisis and standing face to face with those who claimed I could simply pray cancer away. That my faith was what stood between my daughter’s healing or death. (see: Our St. Jude story, how it began)

2016 Revised Common Lectionary / Second Sunday in Lent / February 21st

Genesis 15:1-18; Psalms 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 & 9:28-36

In Genesis 15:1-18 Abram has just defeated the people who kidnapped his nephew Lot and returned the stolen possessions he retrieved back to the King of Sodom. When offered a reward Abram turns it down saying that he wants it clear that his blessings only come from God.

But there is only one thing Abram and his wife truly want, a child. So in chapter 15 when God speaks to Abram and says his blessings will in fact come from God Abram points out the one thing missing and offers a solution.

God in essence says no, be patient, the blessing you desire is coming. And Abram believed.

It was clear there would be suffering along the journey, the fulfillment of the promise was not the entire story. But God wanted to make it clear to Abram, to strengthen his faith, so God put a covenant in place.

Along my own life journey I have felt the need to help God out. I haven’t liked the path I’ve often been led down. I fought God and my husband on joining the military community. I shut down and refused to engage when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer and we weren’t offered the easy way out. I learned the hard way that God doesn’t let go of us even when we want him to.

The answers Abram was given were not quick fixes. He was shown the big picture, the 400 years of oppression followed by blessing. A blessing he would not fully see while alive.

He was shown that in the story of God we all have minor roles. Abram’s solutions weren’t bad solutions, they just did not fit into the big picture. God needed him to see the big picture not the fix for today.

So often I find myself wanting to be a fixer, to solve the problem here and now. But I’m learning slowly that there are not always answers. Occasionally, to be honest more times then not, I need to just shut up and show up.

We are not promised a life without suffering. In Psalms 27 King David speaks of safety in the midst of danger, in trusting God to provide through life’s hardships. In the midst of fear, over and over, God is saying do not be afraid. No matter what life throws at us, no matter what hardships and dangers come, we can trust that God loves us and won’t let go.

God’s strength is overwhelming. It can be intimidating and strike fear in our hearts. But once we come to realize how fiercely God loves each of us we then have to struggle through the question: are we to fear him or not? Is love motivated by fear truly love?

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The apostle Paul spoke of imitating Christ in Philippians 3:17-4:1. He reminds us that we should not be so focused on earthly things that we miss heavenly truths. Our role models should be those seeking to be more like Christ. We shouldn’t put these women and men on pedestals, because like us and like Paul, they are only human and full of flaws. We all get distracted from time to time. That’s what lent is about after all, to refocus our vision on Christ. We are to become, with Paul, fellow imitators of Christ. Christ was not intimidated by suffering or fear.

When the Pharisees attempted to intimidate Him with threats of Herod, see Luke 3:31-35, Jesus’ response was one of determination and love. He pointed out the good He was doing and shared His longing to provide safety to the Jews as a whole. Jesus would love them through the suffering, He wouldn’t run and hide at the threat of danger, and He would love them to the cross.

As you consider the possibility of all that God can do, of how He doesn’t answer with quick fixes that you and I want, as you walk through your own suffering today or tomorrow remember this

We are called to be imitators of Christ. Christ submitted to the big picture, He suffered and died at the hands of those He came to love and He never faltered in that love.

How are you imitating Christ today? Are you motivated by fear or love? In the midst of suffering are you resting in God’s shelter? What does God’s safety mean to you?

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