Dear Friends,
In watching news channels, it is hard not to notice (and I don’t care which station, as they all tend to do it to one extent or another) that they all like to play on our “fears.” And with good reason. Fear is a very powerful motivator. Often, far more of a motivator than love, or compassion, or seeking to be peacemakers. Fear gets people’s attention. It stirs up powerful emotions. It gets more viewers and brings in more revenue to the stations. As one friend of mine says, “if you want to know why, just follow the money trail.” After all, the tamer and less emotionally-hyped type of news delivery just doesn’t have the same power to attract viewers or bring in the money.
In fact, about 4-5 days into my vacation last year, when I was finally starting to de-stress, relax, and unwind, I mistakenly turned on the news at our hotel. Yet, after a half hour of watching, I shut it off, shook my head, and said to Nancy (my wife for those who may not know!): “Well, they just reminded me of everything I’m supposed to be angry about, anxious about, and afraid of.” Yes, fear is a powerful (even addictive) motivator. And, of course, what we are afraid of gets transferred to fearful concern for our kids and grandkids, who will also tend to internalize and exhibit the fears they see in us.
That’s why I so enjoyed this selection for today when I came across it on a friend’s feed. It’s biblical. It honors who God is. It chooses to trust Him. It encourages faith in His sovereign omnipotence and is in keeping with the Bible’s emphasis on not being fear-driven people. It was a very refreshing read! Enjoy.
“Don’t feel sorry for, or fear for, your kids or grandkids because they are going to grow up in a world that is not what it used to be. God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they are in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence, a mistake, or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.
Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God IS in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world.
In watching news channels, it is hard not to notice (and I don’t care which station, as they all tend to do it to one extent or another) that they all like to play on our “fears.” And with good reason. Fear is a very powerful motivator. Often, far more of a motivator than love, or compassion, or seeking to be peacemakers. Fear gets people’s attention. It stirs up powerful emotions. It gets more viewers and brings in more revenue to the stations. As one friend of mine says, “if you want to know why, just follow the money trail.” After all, the tamer and less emotionally-hyped type of news delivery just doesn’t have the same power to attract viewers or bring in the money.
In fact, about 4-5 days into my vacation last year, when I was finally starting to de-stress, relax, and unwind, I mistakenly turned on the news at our hotel. Yet, after a half hour of watching, I shut it off, shook my head, and said to Nancy (my wife for those who may not know!): “Well, they just reminded me of everything I’m supposed to be angry about, anxious about, and afraid of.” Yes, fear is a powerful (even addictive) motivator. And, of course, what we are afraid of gets transferred to fearful concern for our kids and grandkids, who will also tend to internalize and exhibit the fears they see in us.
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| Alex and Caitlyn Cravens |
“Don’t feel sorry for, or fear for, your kids or grandkids because they are going to grow up in a world that is not what it used to be. God created them and called them for the exact moment in time that they are in. Their life wasn’t a coincidence, a mistake, or an accident.
Raise them up to know the power they walk in as children of God.
Train them up in the authority of His Word.
Teach them to walk in faith knowing that God IS in control.
Empower them to know they can change the world.
Don’t teach them to be fearful and disheartened by the state of the world, but hopeful that they can do something about it. Every person in all of history has been placed in the time that they were in because of God’s sovereign plan.
He knew Daniel could handle the lion’s den.
He knew David could handle Goliath.
He knew Esther could handle Haman.
He knew Peter could handle persecution.
He knows that your child can handle whatever challenge they face in their life.
He created them specifically for it!
Don’t be scared for your children, but be honored that God chose YOU to parent (or grandparent) the generation that is facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime. Rise up to the challenge! Raise Daniels, Davids, Esthers, and Peters! God isn’t scratching His head wondering what He’s going to do with this mess of a world. He has an army He’s raising up to drive back the darkness and make Him known all over the earth.
Don’t let your fear steal the greatness God placed in them. I know it’s hard to imagine them as anything besides our sweet little babies, and we just want to protect them from anything that could ever be hard on them, but they were born for such a time as this.”
Alex Cravens
I do not know the gentleman who wrote this nor anything about him. I don’t have to! His words of faith and trust in the God of the Scriptures (the God who is!) speak for themselves. In fact, I would have liked to be a child (or grandchild) sitting under his biblical, God-centered and faith-filled guidance. Fear only leads to retreat, or people pulling back from seeking to venture into the fray to make a positive difference for the other-worldly Kingdom of our Savior. A Savior who has called us to reach the lost by seeking to love, befriend, and reach out to them – for His sake – and not to pull away from them because we are afraid of them.
And, I should probably end by adding that we are to do so whether it turns out well for us or not. For as the verse our congregation has ended our services with every Sunday this year, Acts 20:24, states: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.”
His Forever, Pastor Jeff
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