Fear. It’s a Noun. It’s a Verb. {Day 5}

Hello! Happy Monday.

I have spent time reflecting on the post from Friday. To recap, I shared the quote “Fear is the anticipation of evil.” Leading me to state “to not fear is the anticipation of goodness.”

To not fear is the anticipation of goodness.

It feels important to me to expound on two parts of my quote.

First, fear is a noun and a verb. So what difference does that make?

I initially wrote “ to not have fear is the anticipation of goodness.” While I was reading over my post, that didn’t sit well with me. Before hitting publish, I changed it to “to not fear is the anticipation of goodness.”

Have fear (or to not have fear)- fear being used as a noun

To fear (or not to fear)- fear being used as a verb.

When we use fear as a noun, it recognizes the emotion of fear. One that we can’t always control. One that can also be used for good, to warn us of danger.

When we use fear as a verb, there is implied action. We are acting or reacting in fear.  We are afraid.

So to say “do not have fear”, well that can seem impossible. Feelings and emotions of fear will come. But we can say “do not fear, do not be afraid”. The words we hear Jesus say in Scripture.

When those emotions of fear come, what will we do with them? We can choose to live into them and allow them to be our guide. We can in other words, be afraid. Or we can choose to lean into God and allow his truth to be what illuminates our path. To not fear.

Secondly, what is goodness?

Ok, so that is a huge theological topic. Goodness flows from God, it is an attribute of who he is.

I want to make sure we are not hearing that the anticipation of goodness looks like this “if I don’t fear, then this situation will go away, or it will turn out favorably or pleasantly.”

Oh how I wish I could say that was the case. Or maybe not. Maybe I am glad to say that isn’t always the case. Because it is in those times of deep despair, when the situation did not turn out the way I hoped, that I have truly tasted God’s goodness. It has been when I was surrounded by darkness, when there was once again no heartbeat on the ultrasound, when a father was taken at too young of an age, those were the times I experienced a care and provision that altered my soul.

They didn’t come easy. They were hard fought.  But the results were more real than what the world tells me is real. More good than what the world tells me is good. More redemptive, more peace giving, more courageous.

With that vision of goodness, my heart has space to say that I can anticipate a goodness that is my safe landing place. And when that goodness permeates my life, I have the boldness to say I will not fear in the face of loss, of scary storms and of evil. I will not be afraid of fear. I will not be afraid of fear because my Father hides me in a goodness only the eyes of my heart can see.

“Do not be afraid of sudden fear. Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence and keep your foot from being caught”

Proverbs  3:25-26 (NASB)

I am participating in Write 31 Days. Click right here to see all the amazing topics!  I am writing on 31 Beauty Full Days.  You can read the intro post here.  And you can also always click on the button on the sidebar to see all posts in the series.