When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Genesis 9:14,15 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Look
In the midst of a terrible snowstorm, I lost control of my vehicle and spun out on a freeway exit ramp. Between the blizzard, centrifugal force, and the headlights of other cars, I lost connection with reality and I… was… terrified.
I landed safely, just beneath a stoplight. I was even facing the correct direction.
And then my fear subsided.
But the next time it snowed hard, fear knocked at my door. Would the same tragedy occur? Would my brief history repeat itself? Would I be able to control my vehicle?
But as I drove in the next blizzard, I paid particular attention to the grip my rear tires had on the snow. I noticed the tracks ahead of me that did NOT swing into the ditch. I observed the traffic patterns around me. And those things diminished my fear.
Events which cause fear tend to repeat. Economic swings repeat. Illness come in waves. Relationships that struggled yesterday will have struggles tomorrow. Bad weather re-occurs.
In Genesis 9, God promises something about this. He promises Noah (and us) that when it starts to rain, we do not need to fear earth-wide flood. I expect that the first time it rained after the ark landed, Noah and his family got a bit nervous. I expect that lightning flashes and thunder made them a little afraid. I expect that the first long rain made Noah want to reach for a hammer and saw.
But looking at the rainbow calmed them. Not because rainbows are soothing. But because God gave the rainbow to remind Humans that God promised He would not do that terrible flood thing again.
I believe and observe that God gives us those kinds of signs often. He gives us wedding rings to remember promised fidelity. He gives us sunny days and rainy days to remind us of His provision. He gives us the cross to remind us of THE CROSS.
Problems will keep coming, even after Jesus has dealt with our fears.
Look around for the rainbows God shows us to calm our NEXT fears.
Near not, then look.