The Man Afraid

It's so easy to be afraid. Fear comes in so many forms. It can manifest itself in the shape of people-pleasing, in worrying that you aren't doing enough to be accepted; it can rear its ugly head in the shape of money, and not having enough of it; it has so many masks.

In relationships: fearing you're going to lose friendships if you are not a good enough friend; feeling like you are failing in a relationship if there are any problems; fearing being hurt to the point where you are afraid of stepping into new relationships...the list goes on.

In finances: worrying about whether or not you can keep your job; fearing you won't have enough to pay the bills; wondering if you will have to spend the rest of your natural life working with no results...the list goes on and on.

In health: wondering when age is going to catch up; fearing fragility; fearing death...the list goes on, and on, and on.

We are the man afraid.

Peter knew something about fear. In fact, you could go so far as to say he was ruled by it. He had a specific fear that ruled over him - the fear of people. He was terrified of what people would think of him, to the point that he succumbed to hypocrisy, sitting with the Gentiles at one moment and abandoning them the next (Galatians 2). Even worse, his fear of man led him to deny his Lord and Saviour (Luke 22). He was the man afraid of men.

How wonderful is the grace of God, then, in reaching out to Peter and chipping away at that fear. John 21 shows the healing touch of Jesus in restoring Peter to the knowledge of grace. The healing words of Jesus were a balm to Peter's fearing heart.

Slowly, ever so slowly did Peter change. Ever so slowly did he begin to lose his fear of man, learning instead the fear of God, and therefore the power, majesty, and love of God. In that Peter found rest - and we can too.

Change will come slowly in our lives as well, as we seek God and forsake those things we fear. As John Newton said,

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world—but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am."

If we recognize the work and power of God, and have faith in His promises to never leave us or forsake us - if we begin to understand, as Peter did, the incredible grace of the ever-gracious Father, the unending love of the eternally loving Christ, and the sanctifying presence of the powerful Holy Spirit, we will no longer be the man afraid. We will be courageous and bold for Christ.

Lord, help me to remember this lesson!

Amen.