An Unlikely Antidote

Riddle: It has no boundaries, affects young and mature, can cripple and maim, but when faced, won’t endure.

 According to Andy Bosworth (2018), stretching our minds to solve problems, whether through math, puzzles, or riddles like this one, builds critical thinking and logical reasoning skills—two “must have’s” for all good apologists.^[1] Do you know the solution to this riddle? (Even better, see if one of your children can solve it.)

What if I added the following hint?

According to a 2019 study, 91% of what we ______ never happens.

Without a doubt, 100% of you now know that the missing word is fear. Fear—even saying the word can cause you to feel, well, a little fearful. To clarify, I am not talking about the godly fear—the reverential respect—that we should have and maintain towards our omnipotent God, but rather the uneasiness, anxiety, apprehension, or dread that comes when we feel or imagine danger, evil, or pain.

As may be the case with you, I started experiencing this emotion more frequently and intensely once I became a parent. Every time my girls were out of my sight for any length of time or when (in later years) they did not respond to texts or calls, my anxiety and fear levels rose, and I was constantly imagining worst-case scenarios. But, did any of them come to pass? No, not even one, honestly. Being reminded of this fact right now brings me back to a place of rational thought where I acknowledge (and submit to the truth) that my Heavenly Father has it all under control.

What about you? What do you fear as a homeschool parent?

• Choosing the right curricula for your children
• Not feeling adequate to do the job
• Scheduling your time appropriately
• Not enough activities outside the home, or maybe too many
• Worrying if COVID will claim the life of someone you love
• Wanting your children to impact the world for Christ, but fearing outside influences that may pull them away from their faith
• Judgment from those critical of homeschooling
• Investing a lot of money into a curriculum or co-op and then it not being a good fit for your family
• Not being able to meet your children’s needs—educational or emotional

From a human perspective, all the above are normal, even expected apprehensions. But shouldn’t I be viewing the circumstances of life differently, as a child of the all-wise King of Kings? Absolutely! As a believer, my view of the circumstances should start with God’s Word where I will be shown the way, the truth, and the abundant life in relation to my life and the lives of my family members.

So, how do I practice a biblical worldview when it comes to fear? The riddle above gives a hint: “but when faced, won’t endure.” Facing fear can be a scary proposition, but I’d like to present three steps to you that I believe will give you victory over what may be stealing your joy.

1. Tell yourself the truth about fear from God’s Word.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV).

The truth is that the spirit of fear is one of Satan’s oldest tactics to stifle our growth and effectiveness. Not surprisingly, fear entered the world on the heels of sin. “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid …” (Genesis 3:10, NKJV).

2. Claim power over fear with God’s help.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:4-5, ESV).^[2]

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, ESV)“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1–3, ESV).“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand . . . For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you’” (Isaiah 41:10, 13, ESV).(Also, see Deuteronomy 1:30; Psalm 91:4-5; and Psalm 27:3 for additional encouragement.)As mentioned above, 91% of what we fear—whether it’s the curriculum failing, the schedule not working out, or a worst-case health scenario with our kids—never comes to pass. But, as we all know, we live in a fallen world stained with sin and sickness. Sometimes fears do come true. Read again the verses above, focusing on God’s encouragement to keep our eyes on Him. He is a very present help in trouble. He is bigger than our fears, no matter what our circumstances. We can look to Him and experience that perfect peace, amidst our storms. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3, NKJV).

3. Teach your children about victory over fear through God’s Word, which shows us His antidote to fear. As with every good lesson, you need a hook, so here it is:

Hook:              How can we fight unhealthy fear? —it’s not what you would expect, and it’s simpler than you think.

Lesson:            “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18, ESV).

“God is love” (1 John 4:8b, ESV).

Let’s process this a bit—the antidote to fear is love, and God = love; therefore, God (aka PERFECT LOVE) is the only means by which our fears can be faced and conquered successfully.

Learning to face fear in a healthy way is a process that becomes more meaningful when we teach others. Who better to teach than those the Lord has entrusted to us from conception? I’d like to challenge you to go back through the verses under the second point with your children and replace any reference to God with the word “love.” I think you will be amazed at just how real 1 Timothy 1:7 becomes when you do this exercise.

In summary, I believe we all know that harboring fear is a futile exercise—it drains the energy needed to live abundantly. Our God is greater than anything we can face (Deuteronomy 2:36b; 3:24). He will come when we call upon His name (Lam. 3:57), and when He comes, His love is more powerful than ___________. (Fill in what you fear.)

It is the love of Christ that casts out all our fears. It was also His pure, unadulterated love that compelled Him to go to the cross and rise from the dead to conquer sin and death, so that if we believe and accept Him, we have nothing to fear in this life.

So here’s another riddle for you: It has no boundaries, affects young and mature, will strengthen and heal, and when chosen, endures.

The answer? L-O-V-E—so simple, yet so profound—an unlikely antidote indeed.

Footnotes:

^[1] From the word, apologia, used in 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) where believers are directed as follows, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (apologia) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

² It is important to note that God does not always deliver us from the circumstances, but instead encourages us to keep our focus on Him. That is where we find our freedom from the power of fear.

Reference:

Bosworth, A. (2018, June 14). 7 benefits of puzzle solving for adults. How 2 Become. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://www.how2become.com/blog/7-benefits-puzzle-solving-adults/

© 2022 Holly Varnum