Fear Is a Liar

I heard this Zach Williams song for the first time this week; it resonated with me immediately…

When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
You’ll never be enough

Fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear, he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
‘Cause fear, he is a liar

When he told you were troubled
You’ll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You’ll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never changeOh, fear, he is a liar…

As I watched and listened I wondered what the fears of those prison inmates were… I reflected on the fears of my friends with cancer, with dementia… the fears of children I taught in school… the fears of young parents at Rachel’s parent and toddler group…  

The song describes Fear as a person who speaks silently but powerfully, bringing shame, loneliness and anxiety, pushing us into the dark pit from which there is no escape. Zach Williams answer? Fear is a liar!

Many churches, in this time between Easter and Pentecost, consider the fears of Jesus’ friends and followers… Mary Magdalene in the garden fears she’s lost her best friend. Peter fears that he’d failed Jesus by denying him. Thomas fears that he’s making the wrong judgement. We can only imagine what Mary, Jesus’ mother, was fearing, having seen her son tortured and executed…

The narrative says that the disciples were locked away because of fear; the living Jesus comes and brings his peace. …Rather than listening to the lying voice of fear I can ‘throw my fear into the fire’ and listen to the truth-full power-full voice of peace from the living Jesus.