Author: Betty-Anne Van Rees

One mystifying aspect of the spiritual battles we face as followers of Jesus is the almost universal tendency to be afraid of the things that are helpful for us and unafraid of those that are harmful. We feel safer at home, so we watch church online. We fear conflict, so we fake peace rather than join God in growing true peace. We fear failing, so we resist extending ourselves to new areas of ministry. We are terrified of people’s judgment, so we hide pornography addictions. Perhaps all of these are the practical outworking of the fear of being known. So we hide—behind a false image, or a false peace, or in the safety of our own homes. We lock ourselves up in solo-sized fortresses. Like the marooned island dweller, we tell ourselves that God will rescue us, not recognizing the ship that is offering rescue is His means to do so. Continue Reading →