Have you been to the movies lately? My guess is that most of you have. There are a lot of good films out right now and it would be a shame to miss them on the big screen. So far within the New Year I have seen a wide variety of flicks from Frozen to Captain America and even God’s Not Dead (of which I recommend to students). All of them have been good, but as I was reflecting on the sum of them I realized that they all encompassed prominent themes of fear.
So naturally I start to wonder the logic that Hollywood uses to determine a “best seller” for an audience that is largely made up of our generation because we aren’t parents and will pay to see the movies twice. Or perhaps they look at our larger national or cultural trends and choices.
Perhaps they aren’t saying that we’re a fearful society, but I do think we are a generation who needs to understand what we fear and more importantly what to do with it.
Yesterday I had the privilege of sitting in on a live Google chat with other college ministry directors across the nation.One of them was conveying a common struggle among his students was a constant fear of failure that was keeping them from reaching their full potential. Whether or not this is true nationwide, I think everyone has something they are afraid of. It is not much a question of if we fear, but when. Fear in its self is not a bad thing, but when it works hand in hand with lies it will cripple us every time. This leads to my next point, that we have an enemy looking to bring us down. If Satan is mindful of are fears and how to use them, don’t you think you should as well? We will not be doing ourselves any favors either when we think we can handle them on our own and belittle them from what they really are, because when it comes down to it we are not meant to do this life alone.
I don’t know why, but I feel that God wants you all to know that whatever it is He’s got it. You have no need to fear. He has so many wonderful gifts in this life just waiting for you, but you must be brave and make him first. Let’s not be a fearful generation because we aren’t recognizing them, don’t know how to deal with it or worse are just too lazy. Let’s be the generation that leans into a loving God, boldly claiming every promise he has given us and live into everything He has for us to become.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4
Not Just a Corner 