Fear of the Unknown

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. ¹⁵The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” ¹⁶Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. ¹⁷Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. ¹⁸Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. John 7:14-18

The Jewish people had been promised a messiah who would deliver them from their oppressors and restore the kingdom of David. There were signs to look for that were given by the prophets, but many who had previously claimed to be the messiah turned out not to be. So, in some respects, we can understand why the religious leaders were skeptical of Jesus. They questioned his authority because they do not recognize where it came from. They did not understand how Jesus could heal the man and where he received his knowledge from. They had become so convinced about their understanding of God they could not see God's truth standing in front of them. Because they did not understand they feel threatened, which is a natural human response.


Human beings like to be in control. We would rather go through life as routine drudgery than put ourselves in the position of having no control. Yet, control is an illusion and idolatry. A health scare, job loss, stock market plunge, violence, or even extreme weather are reminders that we are not in control. This is why we seek to buffer ourselves with various products and devices to guard against the unknown because we are truly anxious. The truth is we are not in control and we do not understand. Life is mysterious and baffling and there is very little we can do about it. The flip side of this truth is God is in control and God wants the very best for us. Our desire to control and our anxiety over our lack of control, is all connected to our lack of trust in God. The only way to combat anxiety is to surrender our need for control, to give our trust to God. This may not help us understand but will relieve our need to. This is liberating and transformational. It is also a life-long process which requires divine intervention.


Prayer: Lord, help me to place my trust in you. Help me, in the midst of things I do not understand, to believe you are with me. Help me to confess my anxiety and surrender it to you, in Jesus' name, AMEN.