“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matt. 26:39)
What shall we call this moment, trepidation? Anxiety, nervousness, fear? Can we say that the Creator of all that is, He by whom all the worlds and all that is in them knew, even momentarily, fear?
Three times our Lord went off into the distance alone, into the dark of the night asking the Father for a different path than the one that was laid before Him, that which He knew without a doubt before the creation would occur. It is a question not one of us will ever have an answer for, but we know what happened next, the Lord Jesus Christ resigned Himself to the will of the Father, no matter the consequences to Himself.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)
To walk in fear and trust at the same time is not the way of many who profess to serve the Living God, the continuation of life unabated by adverse conditions is, to have no circumstances arrive in their lives that will cause physical pain or emotional suffering, to not be bothered overly much with that which will cause any possibility of persecutions.
They want life to go well and then to die in their sleep.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2nd Tim. 3:12)
This fear is why many do not speak His name outside of the confines of their church, it is why they do not ask those they meet, “Who do you say Jesus Christ is,” it is why the world does not hate them. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) My friends, God is not for these people, they do not serve Him in fear and trembling, they seek a path unhindered by any possibility of turmoil, and that path is wide and smooth. They will not die to self, much less for the glory of God.
To be crucified with Christ is to live in a constant state of fear, one we battle against daily, the fear of the possibility of losing all we own, of those we love and care for leaving us because we will not leave Christ, of the world hating us, of father, mother, brother and sister, of every friend we ever had forsaking us, and still walking with the Savior. Thy will be done my friends must be more than words we say, they must mean no matter what, no matter the path you choose for me, I will follow.
If He leads you into the fire, in fear and trust you will walk into the fire.
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)
Embarrassment is the first fear you must contend with, you must stop being concerned with what people think about you and the relationship you profess in your heart to have with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not start here, all the other battles will be lost.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. (2nd Tim. 2:19a)
It is a fear that many will not contend with, and every excuse, every reasoning of the mind will come down to this single point, they desire the praise of men instead of the things of God.
The Lord knew He could ask for twelve legions of angels, He knew there was a way out if He simply asked for it, but He chose to walk in the face of fear, trusting in the Father that His will was better than His own desire to escape what was approaching.
Are you honestly willing to drink from the cup that has been set before you?
There is no shame in asking for another way, there is much shame and dishonor not walking in fear and trust at the same time.
