Manipulating Fear

I hope all my readers had better sense than I and didn’t watch last night’s debate. For an excellent summary go to http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/305771/gop-candidates-try-scare-hell-out-america.

People’s fears are legitimate don’t get me wrong, but it’s another thing to manipulate fear and to try to turn it into something else. Not just fear of a terroristic incident but most all fears can quickly overtake.

When fear overtakes I try to say to myself that old familiar psalm, “Be still, then, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46.

I find it helpful to pull the old bible off the shelf and remember how it begins. “God is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble.” To remind myself that I am not the only one who has experienced fear—  “though the earth should change, though the mountains shake.” And that God’s response is always for “wars to cease,” and that he breaks the bows, shatters the spears, and burns the shields. He doesn’t cause us to turn on our neighbors, turn our fear into hatred or bigotry, or to “carpet bomb” women and children.

Fear can always be easily manipulated, history is replete with examples, but that doesn’t mean we should quit trying. When fear overtakes be still, seek peace, and draw near to God.