Fright, Fear, and Faith
A Muddy Message for April 12, 2025
Sir John Schorne and Claus the Clockmaker are names few people know. John was a 13th-Century British preacher and Claus was a 16th-Century German clockmaker. So, how do they connect and why do I mention them? Well, history suggests they’re the men behind a toy we know as the ‘Jack-in-the-Box,’ and it’s the toy I want to discuss for a bit.
In a Jack-in-the-Box, I find the idea of fear. Much like when its spring is sprung and a ‘Jack’ pops up to surprise me as I simply ‘turn the crank while the music plays,’ things can suddenly happen in life that surprise or scare me. After all, anyone who’s ever played with a Jack-in-the-Box knows that a ‘Jack’ will pop out at some point.
As it is with the toy, so it is in life: I rarely know when ‘Jack’ will make an unwelcomed appearance. But unlike the toy, the fears I are often not amusing – nor can I simply stuff them back into their ‘box’ – no matter how much I wish they could be.
Fear is real. It can be powerful and paralyzing. Fear is always emotional, and sometimes irrational. Our word ‘fear’ is actually borrowed from the ancient Greek word ‘phobos.’ We take another familiar word from phobos: ‘phobia.’ So, how I respond to fear matters, and God knows it does.
Biblically, fear has two sides. On one side, fear means to be frightened. On the other, fear is to be fortified, or, made strong. So, God separates ‘fright’ from ‘fear.’ God allows fearful things into my life, and they will either draw me to Him or distance me from Him.
Fear, then, is divinely designed to cause me to deeply respect God or to recoil from Him. Fear will reveal a right relationship to Him or expose a wrong one. Fear will either draw me like a child to his Father or distance me from His everlasting arms.
When frightful things come into my life, I will either be scared of the ‘Jack,’ or be strengthened by the God Who rules over all ‘Jacks.’ I’ll run to God or I’ll run from Him. As you can see, ‘being afraid’ of God is quite unlike ‘having a fear’ of Him.
Godly fear never ends in fright. Rather, fearing God replaces fright with faith. For the result of godly fear is faith.
Communicating with the Commander:
Father, If I simply ask, You promise to protect me and give me peace when I’m afraid. Thank You for Your presence when I’m afraid. Teach me to run to you, and not from you, when trouble comes my way. Turn my fright into faith in You, I pray. Amen.
Orienting Your Map:
[Key Verses: Psalm 91:5-6; Hebrews 13:6; Also: Genesis 3:10; Exodus 14:31; 20:20; Deuteronomy 10:12; Job 4:12-17, 5:19; Psalm 19:9, 34:7-10, 36:1, 46:1-2, 111:10, 112:7-8; Proverbs 1:7, 3:21-26, 14:26-27, 15:16, 29, 33, 16:6, Proverbs 19:23, 22:4, 28:1; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Isaiah 41:10, 43:1-2; Matthew 8:26, 10:28; Luke 1:50, 12:4-7; Romans 3:10-18, 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 4:18]
I did not remember hearing about either man before, but what a great thought on fear. Thank you for reminding us that fear is also to be strong. I think fear and depression often go hand-in-hand.
Thank you reminding us about the other side of fear. Jack and his closest cousin, Murphy, appear to take turns. With God, we ‘know’ and fear is banished to the back! God’s grace and protection is difficult to imagine.
Blessings and thank you.🙏