What We Don’t Need
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Has Not Given – Are you a road warrior? Are you a follower of Yeshua and the Way who sometimes finds the journey excruciating? Do you see discipleship blisters on your feet? Then Paul has something important for you. It’s a verse from his own life experience, and it’s just right for all of us who know that following the Master really does mean joyful struggle.
Paul starts by telling us what God doesn’t provide. He calls it “a spirit of timidity,” but it might also be translated “cowardice” or “fearfulness.” It’s the same idea that you will find in Psalm 55:4 (the terror of death) and Leviticus 26:36 (weakness of heart). God does not give such anxious concern. The Greek helps us see how important this opening thought really is. It begins with the powerful “not!” (Ou). God is never the author of fear and anxiety. The verb is just as crucial. It is didomi which means to give of one’s own will and with good intent. Here’s the best part. The verb is in the aorist tense. That means that Paul considers this a completed action in the past. God never gave, and has never given, a sprit of fearfulness. If that’s what you’re feeling when you see those blisters on your discipleship feet, you can be absolutely certain that it didn’t come from God!
Why does this matter so much? Quite frankly, it matters because fearfulness and anxious concern are at the heart of reticence to obey. We know that God says that love casts out fear, but those words don’t always seem to translate into actions in our lives. We hold back from complete abandonment to Him because we are afraid. There’s no other way to put it. We are fearful of what might happen. We project our terrors into the future. We think about the possible impact on our families. God might not give us a spirit of cowardice, but it’s there nonetheless.
If you’re facing the call to abandon everything to God, then you know exactly what I am talking about. It’s scary. It shouldn’t be. After all, God is sovereign. He’s in control. He loves us and He will never do anything that is not for our best within His purposes. He is gracious. His compassion outweighs His wrath. All of that should make abandonment obvious. But the terrible truth is that I am weak and afraid. I am a coward. As much as I know about God, I still stumble over total trust. I still falter when I imagine all the things that might happen if I give up everything. Jesus knew about this kind of weakness only too well. “The spirit is willing,” He said. You know the rest.
You and I need to hear Paul’s opening declaration. Our fears do not come from God. Yes, we have them, but God never gave them to us. Obedience is acting in spite of my fear. My fear is real, but it does not replace God’s goodness. God calls me to choose anyway. And with His help, I can.
“Father, rescue me. I believe, help my unbelief.”
Topical Index: Fear
