Fear...and Trust

Last summer Daystar Consulting held an event entitled “A Dialog with Christian Business Owners.”  At one point during this get together I met with the business owners while my wife Margaret met with the spouses.  As the business owners and I sat in a circle, I asked each one to share one prayer request with the group.  It was interesting that two business owners requested prayer because of their “fear.”  As I’ve been privileged to work with several other business owners since that day, I find that “fear” is not a stranger to the Christian business owner or to the Christian employee.

We live in a world where fear is common—on every continent, in every city, and in every business.  Common business fears include:

·        Fear of losing your job.

·        Fear of losing a key customer.

·        Fear of not meeting a deadline.

·        Fear that somehow just won’t measure up.

·        Fear that your company is going “backwards.”

·        Fear that you will run out of cash.

·        Fear that the bank won’t look on your business with favor.

·        Fear that you aren’t leading the way you think you should.

·        Fear that you’re spending too much time at work.

·        Fear that you’re not spending enough time at work.

The list goes on and on.  A great business sage of the 20^th Century (Peter Drucker??) mentioned that one of management’s key responsibilities was to “drive fear from the workplace.”

Before we continue, ask yourself this question, “How much fear is there in my company?” 

Then ask, “Am I afraid…right now?”

Someone once told me that fear can be healthy—even motivational.  And I believe that can be the case.  But what I’m talking about in this Insight is an unhealthy fear, a debilitating fear—a sometimes-paralyzing fear.  So what can we do? 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”  Psalm 56:3 

I learned that verse many years ago.  But I discovered a new insight on this verse just recently.  Here it is.  You can fear and trust at the same time.  Look at the verse.  “I am afraid.”  At the same time, “I put my trust in you.” 

It reminds me of the man in Mark 9 who had brought his son to Jesus for healing (the disciples were unable to heal the boy).  At one point Jesus exclaims to the boy’s father, “All things are possible for one who believes.”  And the father’s response is recorded in the Scripture as follows: “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” 

Here we find a man believing and not believing at the same time.  He asks the LORD to help him overcome his unbelief and allow his trust in Jesus to go from X% to 100%.

Here is my point.  You don’t have to be fearless to be pleasing to your Heavenly Father.  He knows that “we are made of dust” and He delights in calming our fears.  He also understands that there may be times when our trust in Him wavers because of circumstances shouting in our ears.  He is not offended when we cry out, “I believe—please help my unbelief!”   

Fear sometimes comes disguised as worry.  I really enjoyed this the other day in My Utmost for His Highest where Oswald Chambers writes: “Have we been slandering God by daring to worry when He has said, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be given to you as well.’  Worrying is saying to God, ‘I know You mean to leave me in the lurch.” 

I have something I’ve been worrying about this week and when I read that, I laughed out loud.  Do I truly believe that the One Who created me, Who knows me, and Who loves me plans to “leave me in the lurch?”  It doesn’t even make sense! 

And so I go forward asking our LORD to increase my belief, to forgive me for even thinking that I can’t trust Him with all the details.  And He reminds me that as I increase my level of intimacy with Him (for me that means spending more time alone with Him), my level of trust in Him will rise. 

Perhaps that is why one of great preachers (I believe it was D.L. Moody) one morning was quoted as saying, “Today is going to be a very, very busy day.  Thus, I shall spend more time in prayer this morning.”  Sounds almost opposite to what the modern Christian businessperson would do, doesn’t it?  What will you do this week to drive out fear from your life—and from the life of your company? 

Keith 

Subscribe to these Weekly Insights at no cost at www.daystarconsulting.com

If for any reason you would like to be removed from our email list, please email Remove@daystarconsulting.com