Fear Not... Then Bless

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (I Peter 3:9 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Bless

Her name was Rosemary, and she was dying of cancer.  Her body was rapidly degrading, and medical care was unable to slow it down.  Certainly, God could have healed miraculously in this life, but instead He decided to heal miraculously by bringing Rosemary into heaven suddenly and completely healthy.

Whenever anyone visited Rosemary in the hospital, we went away at peace.  She had the right words, the right facial expression, the right attitude.  Those who came to minister to Rosemary, went away having received ministry.

She seemed to understand Peter’s words.

Rather than dwell in bitterness due to the evil of illness, she blessed.  Rather than present anger because of her decline, she blessed.  Rather than complain about unfairness, she blessed.

I think God gives us troubles, brings evil into our lives, and puts us in situations where anger and reviling are normal for just this reason.  So that we can bless someone.

The old response to such difficult is fear.  But instead, we get to bless.

The old response to such troubles is fear.  But now we get to use the troubles as a springboard for blessing someone.

The old response to such evil is fear.  But now we get to ignore the evil and instead find thoughts, words, and ways to bless someone.

Fear not, then bless.

Fear Not... Then Start Over

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:21,22 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Start Over

A friend, serving in Panama in the Army, fell asleep on guard duty.  Our nation was not at war, but my friend was busted his rank of Sergeant down to Private, and lost all hard earned privileges and positions.  His sleepiness earned him a black mark on his record that he never overcame.

He soon left the army.

We do not usually get to start over.

But Jesus is the King of starting over. 

Saul was a killer of Christians.  He made havoc in the church, and people remembered.  Later, after Saul’s conversion, when he became an evangelist, those people objected. 

Christ is different than us.  We humans do not often give opportunities for a fresh start.  At best, the fresh starts we offer come with strings attached.  “I’ll give you another chance, but you’d better not mess up again!!!”  Or “I’ll give you another chance, but I’ll be watching you!”

Jesus, on the other hand, unabashedly, outlandishly, and shockingly lets people start over.

Maybe because He realizes how transforming the gospel is, and we sometimes forget.

Maybe because He realizes how necessary the gospel continues to be, and we sometimes forget.

Maybe because He realizes how refreshing starting over is, and we sometimes forget.

Fear not, then start over.

Fear Not... Then Wait

And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.’ (I Kings 11:39 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Wait

A few months ago, the back inside of my Sunday shoe dug a hole in my heel.  I noticed the pain, but I ignored it.  Finally, after far too much time I consulted my Chief Medical Expert, my wife, who looked at it and was astonished.  It was a strange, deep, swelling wound.  She prescribed some wound care treatment, and I settled in for a long healing process.

It hurt for a long time

But once my wife got involved, I knew the pain would have an end.

The people of Israel, as King Solomon ended his life and reign, followed Solomon down a rebellious path.  And God was disappointed.  The result was a kingdom broken into North and South, ruled by men that the people deserved.

And it hurt.  It hurt worse than my heel.  God’s people endured Jeroboam and Rehoboam; Ahab and Ahaz; Athaliah and Jezebel.

But before God did any of that, He promised that the pain would not last.  He would not afflict His people forever.

It was the same promise God gave in Genesis, after Adam’s fall.

A savior would come.

Whatever pain we are enduring, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, it will not last.

We do not need to fear our trials and troubles and problems.  They will not las

Because of Jesus, who took our burdens on HIS back.  Even (and maybe especially) the burdens we’ve earned.

Fear not, then wait.

Fear Not... Even When We Keep On Sinning

God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son He loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. (Colossians 1:13, 14 The Message)

Fear Not… Even When We Keep Sinning

It is not that sinning sends us to hell.  It is that sinning, without Jesus, sends us to hell.

Birds fly, fish swim, elephants stomp, dogs jump on the counter, and humans sin.

“Redeemed” does not mean a lack of sin.  “Redeemed” means our sin is put on Jesus’ back.

Sin no longer reigns in us (Romans 6:14-16) not because Christians do not sin, but because Christ’s reign in us covers that sin in God’s all-seeing eyes. 

God’s wrath, which might lead us to fear, has been poured out fully on His Son on the cross. (I John 4:10)

Hate your sin, because God does.  Sin no more, because Jesus commands it.  Yearn for freedom from sin, because we can not wait!  Confess your sin, because for Christians, acknowledging sin is equivalent to clinging to Jesus.

But when you sin today, remember that the reason for fear is gone.

That reason was nailed to the cross.

Fear not, even when we keep sinning.

Fear Not... Then Be Patient

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7,8 ESV)

Fear Not… Then be Patient

There is a strategy in chess called The Sicilian Defense.  It involves moving one’s pawns in a particular way that sets up a zone on the board that the black player can cover.  I used it a number of times, years ago, but never successfully.  The Sicilian Defense never seemed to work for me.

But I have discovered why.

I used to set it up… and then attack from it.

But the Sicilian Defense requires patience.

It works best when the Defense is set up… and then you wait.  Trusting that it will work.

Just like one of those spiders that waits in its nest.

Just like a carefully defended national border.

Just like a Christian… knowing that God has things under control.

Just like a Christian… knowing that Jesus IS the best defense.

Just like a Christian… knowing that ‘the end’ is already known by Jesus, and He is coming. 

Fear not, then be patient.

Fear Not... Then Open Someone's Eyes

 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 9:17 ESV)

Fear Not… and Open Someone’s Eyes

Ananias was not eager to visit Saul.  Saul was a fanatic, a murderer of Christians, an enemy of God’s people.  But God had a plan for Saul.  And so Ananias obeyed.

God’s evangelistic plan was bigger than Ananias’ fears. 

Saul was going to bring God’s Word throughout the Middle East, and all the way to Rome.  He brought light to those dwelling in darkness.  He brought hope to those in despair.  He brought Jesus to those who needed Him, and Need Him. 

And Ananias moved past his fear as a part of that process.

He opened Saul’s eyes, so Paul could open the world’s.

Ananias might not see that he had a part in God’s plan.  Ananias might not see that his fear of Saul was a roadblock to the gospel.  Ananias might not see that opening Saul’s eyes, while not brazenly gospely-y,  brought Jesus to Rome. 

But Ananias listened to God instead of to fear.  And look what happened.

Maybe the things we continue to fear are part of that process, too.  Maybe moving past our fears is how God will bring His light to those in darkness.

Fear not, and open someone’s eyes.

Fear Not... Then Grow Up

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Grow Up

I did not learn how to read until college.

In high school, I thought I was reading.  But I would do homework for one class while in another class.  I knew my teachers’ methods, and knew how they used textbooks, so I never had to actually deeply read.  I skimmed, seeking confirming information that I had heard from my teachers’ lectures.

And then college.

I almost failed my entire first semester.  Primarily because I did not know how to read with a highlighter in one hand, with an outline forming in my mind, with an attitude of trying to learn.

That process of relearning how to read was difficult.  I wanted to take shortcuts.  I wanted to go back to easy skimming.

But I learned how to read… and grew up.

Sometimes the troubles God sends us work that way, too.  We want to avoid them.  We want to get out of the pit.  We want to have a solution now… quickly… easily.

But God has something in mind.  Whatever we are enduring, He is teaching us maturity. 

It is hard… but the result, after the fear of the troubles is gone, is peace, sufficiency, and maturity.

Fear not, then grow up.

Fear Not... Then Remember the King

…then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.  (I Kings 9:5 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Remember the King

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie once promised a nephew that Carnegie would purchase a particular toy for the young boy’s birthday.  The two traveled from store to store, seeking the toy, unsuccessfully.

It looked like Carnegie would not be able to keep his promise.

But instead, Carnegie surprised everyone.  He marched into the headquarters of the company that manufactured the toy and bought the company.

He then went out to the warehouse, selected the toy, and placed it in his nephew’s hands.

Sometimes when it seems a promise is unkeepable, the promiser can surprise.

God promised His people, Israel, that someone from David’s line would always be King.  It must have been disheartening for the Israelites when Babylon dethroned the last King of Judah.  They must have doubted, like Andrew Carnegie’s nephew.

But God did not forget His promise.  He kept it.  Because His promise was bigger than they thought.  God did not intend that someone would be merely an earthly King… He promised that SOMEONE would be King.

Jesus was King of God’s People.  And He still is today.

It might seem at times that God is not keeping His promises.  But He has always shown that He always will keep them.  Often not in the way we expect… but usually, better.

Fear not, then remember the King.

Fear Not... Then Jesus

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 6:9 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Jesus

I was recalling recently one of my best friends from high school.  My high school days were not exactly miserable, but I did endure a number of rough situations.  Fights, bad romances, gossip, academic struggles, and teenage angst were not uncommon.

But those things would have been a lot worse, if not for my friend. 

We have not remained in contact.  We went separate ways after school.  But I cannot escape the knowledge that John’s presence made my struggles bearable.

Isaiah knew that the Messiah would be like that, only better.

Jesus not only accompanies us, He chose to suffer with us.  Jesus chose to get His feet dirty on earth, surrounded not by the peaceful glory of heaven, but by the chaotic pain of earth-life.  Jesus chose to save us by being present with us while He lived on earth, and through His Spirit ever since He left.

We have struggles.  But we are not alone.

He has endured our struggles with us.  He has suffered our sufferings even more than we have endured. 

He carries us where we cannot walk and endures our weight and our ingratitude.

And tomorrow He will do it again.

So we are never really alone.

Fear not, then Jesus.

Fear Not... Then Pray

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Pray

I used to collect stamps.  For many years, I added to my collection.  I made purchases, carefully mounted stamps in collection books, and searched for more stamps that my collection lacked.

At one point, a friend asked me how much money my collection was worth.  I had a few rare stamps, some painstakingly complete sets, and a lot of stamps that I had just found interesting.  But I had no idea how much the collection was worth, monetarily.

That was not why I collected stamps.

Perhaps we consider prayer in that way.  It might seem that we pray to get help in a particular situation.  It might seem that we pray to receive help.  It might seem that we pray to accomplish a goal.  It might seem that we pray because we have needs.

And prayer does have to do with all of those things.

But Paul points out a better reason to pray.

We pray so that we will receive peace.  Not merely logical peace because we understand God’s actions, but a supernatural peace.  A peace that comes from relationship with Jesus.  A peace that comes from knowing Him because we converse with Him.  A peace that comes from trusting.

Fear not, then pray.

Fear Not... Then Obey

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, (Philippians 2:12 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Obey

I was tasked with installing a hot water heating system in an old house as part of a remodeling project.  My job was to place heaters in each room, determine copper pipe placement, and install the entire thing.

I had been trained by experienced plumbers.  I knew pretty much what to do.  But I was nervous.  I was unsure I would have the stamina, skills, and knowledge to complete the job satisfactorily.

But I got to work.  Each day, I did more.  Gradually, the nervousness disappeared.  I was no longer afraid.

And when I was done with fear, I did not change my approach to plumbing.  The lack of fear did not divert me from what I knew had to be done… step by step. 

It might have, though.  I might have thought, now that I was not afraid, that I could come up with a BETTER way to install the heaters.  I might have, in my relaxed state, decided to improvise, or cut corners, or take shortcuts.

But thankfully, I did not.

After the fear, I did what I knew was right.

We Christians have the same opportunity daily.  When we are afraid, sometimes we respond with a focus on obedience, righteousness, and faithfulness.  Not believing that such obedience is enough for salvation.  Such obedience is, instead, the result of our focus on Him.

But after the fearful situation is resolved, we might slack off.  We might stop thinking about what God has said to do.  We might care less about doing His will.  We might think we need something new, and more exciting, and more modern.

But God’s commands are the same whether we are afraid or at peace.  Jesus summarized God’s commands by telling us to love.  God commands us to love Him, and love others. (Luke 10:27)

Fear not, then obey.

Fear Not... Then Heaven

At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom He saw in all His glory with Jesus standing at His side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!” (Acts 7:54-56 ESV)

FEAR NOT… THEN HEAVEN

Courage is not the absence of fear.  Among the many who have attempted to explain this, Mark Twain wrote, ““Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” 

Stephen, probably freshly ordained as a deacon, overcame the natural urge to be afraid.  Luke writes that Stephen only had eyes for God.  He saw God instead of the threats of God’s enemies.

This might seem like a metaphor, an exaggeration, or a turn of phrase.  But the next sentence makes it clear that Stephen, after his fear, saw heaven.

Perhaps Stephen was able to see heaven because he had moved beyond fear.

Perhaps the hope of that view was what enabled Stephen to move beyond fear.

Perhaps Stephen had eyes for heaven because he refused to look at things that caused fear.

Perhaps it was all three.

But Stephen had replaced his fear with heaven.  Follow Stephen’s eyes.

Fear not, then heaven.

Fear Not... Then Do Church

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Acts 6:1-3 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Do Church

I had lost my job, and my career.  Bills annoyingly continued to arrive, and our income was not enough to balance our checkbook.  My personal and private life were portraits of shame, embarrassment, and insecurity. 

What did we do? We went to church.  

I am not bragging.  I am not claiming piety.  I simply did not believe I had any other thing to do.

Even though church MIGHT have been seen as something that added to my troubles… we did church.

The apostles had plenty of troubles.  Political and religious persecution were daily events.   While God HAD granted them faith, they had plenty of reasons to be insecure, uncomfortable, and afraid.

“Let’s wait till things calm down,” they might have said.

“Let’s let the storms of political and religious oppression blow themselves out,” they might have said.

“Let’s avoid more conflict, more trauma, more turmoil, and more work,” they might have said.

But instead, they did church.

After their fears… they did the work of Christ on earth.

They made sure the gospel was presented, and they made sure the practical work of the church was done.

Isn’t church the usual way God deals with the aftereffects of fear?

Fear not, then do church.

Fear Not... Messages of Joy

To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. (Isaiah 61:3 The Message)

FEAR NOT… then MESSAGES OF JOY

Scary movies usually follow the same pattern.  Bad stuff, a bit of reprieve, then worse stuff, then a bit of reprieve, then the WORST stuff… on and on.  The cycle only ends at the end of the movie, with the destruction of the bad guy.  And even then… the last scene will often hint that more trouble is coming, in the sequel!

Insert our fears in that cycle, and it looks like our lives.  Something makes us afraid.  We find reprieve, but then something else arises.  We find reprieve, but then fear jumps out at us again.

Isaiah gives us a suggestion to stop the cycle.

Listen to messages of joy.  Search for messages of joy.  Speak messages of joy. 

The world is pretty good at speaking messages of doom.  Bad news sells news.  Articulated worry makes us sound experienced, clever, and caring.  Stating doubt gives the appearance of understanding.

But God speaks good news.  He speaks gospel.

Joy is not shallow happiness.  Joy is a happy contentment that arises from trusting in Jesus and His promises.

When fear repeats, break the cycle with a dose of joy.

Fear not, then messages of joy.

Fear Not... Then Wake Up

Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God’s bright glory has risen for you. (Isaiah 60:1 The Message)

Fear Not… Then Wake Up!

After a day of excitement, I like to sleep.  My deepest sleep-nights have been after a day on the roller-coasters, a disappointing last-moment election result, a nerve-filled medical procedure, or a sword fight with a monster. 

After the fear is gone sleep comes easily.

But Isaiah sets an alarm clock instead.  Jerusalem had undergone frightful military, political, economic, and personal tragedies.  God both promised help, and provided redemption. 

And then he tells them to wake up!

The ancient Greeks awarded laurels to winners of competitions, battles, and contests.  But when the award ceremony was finished, the winners were encouraged to get back to work.  And thus the warning against ‘resting on our laurels’ was born.

Isaiah says that even though God has HELPED… now it is time for us to wake up.

There is work to be done.

Fear not, then wake up.

Fear Not... Then God

The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger?  His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:5-8 ESV)

FEAR NOT… THEN GOD

Kansas has had a lot of earthquakes lately.  Perhaps because we are not really used to them, these quakes are frightening.  Usually, I am unaware of our occasional tremors.  But this week, for some reason, I have felt them.

I have watched knick-knacks on the shelf shake.  I have watched pictures on the wall shudder.  I have watched my dog cower.  I have watched impact tremors in my Diet Coke.

Earthquakes in Israel were more common.  Nahum mentions them because quaking mountains and shaking hills were well-known, yet mysteriously frightening.  Even though we might think we understand Richter Scales, plate tectonics, and underground lava movements we still look nervously around us.

But God is stronger than an earthquake.  God not only understands His creation, He includes it in His plans, actions, and providential care.  For those who know God, through Christ, earthquakes are not something to fear. 

Instead, they are something that remind us of God;  according to Nahum, not just God’s power… but God’s goodness! 

What does Nahum mean?  Nahum reminds us that the bigger our problem, the bigger God shows Himself to be.  Nahum preaches that no matter how scary something is, God yearns to protect you from it.  Nahum says that terrifying things are opportunities to take refuge in God. 

In fact, the scariest thing, sin itself, was answered by God with power, sacrifice, and love.  God is our refuge!

Fear not… Then God.

Fear Not... Then Suffer

…and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, (Philippians 1:28,29 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Suffer

Grading papers is not usually a pleasant activity.  Depending on the subject matter, I often find it either boring, stressful, or difficult.  But I am very willing to suffer for the sake of the students.  Modernity spouts the myth that it is our right to avoid suffering.  But suffering, in some sense, is often the price for progress, community, and love.

And sometimes actual suffering is even more than that.

For Paul, writing to the Philippians, suffering is not something to be avoided, but something we ‘get’ to do.  Suffering is closely tied to our belief in Christ.

His suffering puts our suffering in context.  His sacrifice puts our suffering in context.  His humiliation puts our suffering in context. 

Encounters with our opponents seem to justify fear. But when we are aware that through Christ we have nothing to fear, then those difficult encounters are opportunities for Kingdom work. We can willingly suffer through them, because of our workmate, Christ.  According to Paul, the difficulties are therefore gifts from God.

We will suffer in this life. (II Corinthians 1:5, I Peter 2:21 et al) But after our fear is gone, suffering is something we get to do.  It is not fun.  But it is glorious. (Romans 8:18)

Fear not, then suffer.

Fear Not... Then Armor Up

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Armor Up

In an old Space Opera, the hero is about to face down the evil aliens.  As he goes through the airlock, he pauses and buckles on his nifty ray-gun. 

His sidekick mocks him.  “Why the hardware?  I thought you weren’t afraid?”

The hero answers with clenched teeth, “It is because I am NOT afraid that I take my gun.  If I were afraid, I wouldn’t dare DO anything at all!”

Even if we are not afraid, evil is tough to withstand.  But we have better weaponry than a ray-gun.  Paul describes our defenses as the armor of God.  Because we are not cowering in fear or frozen in terror, we strap on our armor.  Because we know it is the armor OF GOD, because we know it is JESUS in charge, because we know that Christ already bought the victory, now we can stand firm.

Believing and speaking truth.

Protected by Christ’s righteousness.

Standing on the peace of the gospel.

Faith between us and God’s enemies.

Guarded by salvation itself.

Not using our own thoughts, but the Word of God.

Fear not, then armor up.

Fear Not... Then Love

Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. (Genesis 24:67 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Love

Robert Todd Lincoln grew up in the shadow of his father, Abraham Lincoln.  While Robert served as an aid to General U.S. Grant, was a key alderman in South Chicago, and was even Secretary of War in his later years, he lived in fear that he would not live up to the world’s expectations of the Great Emancipator’s son. 

It is easy to imagine Isaac living in similar fear.  Abraham had huge sandals.  He had accomplished so much, had created so much, and had believed so much.  How could Isaac live up to that?

But God’s promises had been clear.  The line of the Savior would pass through Isaac.  No matter what Isaac felt about his own abilities, his own accomplishments, or his own place in history, God Himself promised that Isaac had nothing to fear. (Genesis 17:16, 22:18) But maybe he feared anway.

Just like we often fear, despite God’s promises.

But when Isaac saw Rebekah, the woman who was to be his wife, it appears that his fears dissipated.  He was out in the field mediating, (Genesis 24:63) which sounds a lot like praying.  And God chose that moment to give Isaac faith. 

Isaac responded to his lack of fear by loving Rebekah.

A pretty good reaction, actually.  Love is God’s primary command to His people.  And when our fear is lessened, maybe we have more energy to do what God commands

Fear not, then love.

Fear Not.. Then Proclaim the Gospel

…and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:19 ESV)

Fear Not… Then Proclaim the Gospel

John F. Kennedy was shipwrecked in the middle of a battle during WWII.  And as his crew gathered on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, they were all afraid.  Somehow, Kennedy overcame that fear, and found courage.  And that enabled him to act boldly.  He attempted various means to be rescued, survive, and find hope.  But it began with an end of fear for Kennedy.

For God’s folk, too, after fear comes boldness.  But not any kind of boldness.  Paul tells the Ephesians that after HIS fear, he yearns for boldness in talking about Christ Jesus.  Paul’s asked for boldness would enable him to turn every fearful situation into an arrow aimed at the gospel. 

The things that used to make us afraid are now venues for boldness.  The same problems, pains, and darkness no longer make us shake, instead we walk among them boldly, using them as opportunities to talk about Jesus.  Yes, we used to be afraid, but now we know more about Jesus and we can talk about it.  Yes, we used to see problems as prime, but now we know that Jesus solves problems and we can talk about it.  Yes, we used to dwell in darkness, but we have seen a great light and we can talk about it.

Fear not, then proclaim the gospel.