Devotion: Faith in the Face of Fear of Illness and The Unknowns

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell the disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” (Matthew 28:1-8 )

Can you remember a time in your life when an event so rocked you that you were numb, unable to cry, scream, or laugh? You couldn’t move or react in any way? Reality fell on you like a heavy wall, causing a form of involuntary emotional and physical paralysis.

We read here that the guards at Jesus’ tomb suffered in this way. The fear of this event so traumatized them that they fell to the ground as if dead! Yet Mary and Mary, Jesus’ disciples who had gone to His tomb to see their Saviour’s final resting place, or so they thought, were somewhat fearful but still coherent and open to direction. Their faith in Jesus had opened their spiritual eyes allowing them to be more accepting of supernatural life changing events such as this.

At some time every person’s life is touched in some way by traumatic incidents; like the death of a loved one or a diagnosis of an illness. We can react by being so fearful we don’t move from that place of fear, so traumatized that our life becomes dead. Or, by faith, we can see Jesus and His power gained from the resurrection as our strength to go and tell others what Jesus is doing or His promise of what he can and will do in our situation.

Fear is natural but it does not have to stop you from fulfilling a full life in Christ! Your earth shattering life event can be the channel which Jesus uses to witness through you His saving grace. He can give you the strength and the faith you need to overcome your fear and witness to others.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I am faced with situations that would overwhelm me in the natural fill me with Your peace and joy; and give me the faith to overcome by Your Spirit. Amen.

About the Author:
Julie Munro lives in New Zealand, her walk with the Lord has been over mountains and through valleys but He has remained her constant support and her ever loving Father.

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What was a time you felt the fear but still were able to focus on the fact that God was still in control of the situation? What advice would you give someone who feels paralyzed by fear?