"In the middle of every difficulty, there lies oppurtunity."

Difficulties are obvious. They jump up and grab you by the throat. But the opportunities that accompany them are less obvious, often going undetected.

This is a pity because these opportunities make for inspired, innovative and creative possibilities. Many individuals, companies and ideas got their start during crisis times. The old withers, the new blossoms.

"Not selfish opportunities or taking advantage of others misfortunes. But opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, which always reaches out to help others."

Among the multitude of opportunities available during this difficult time, there’s one, in particular, that’s on my mind.

Purpose

Fear is not the problem. it’s what we do with it. Or what it does to us. There’s good fear and bad fear. There’s good responses to fear and bad responses. The emotion of fear, like other emotions, can be a good servant but a tyrannical master.

I have heard it said, that one of the great marks of spiritual progress is that you remain calm in the face of crisis, adversity, danger, and threats.

Fear and panic are more contagious than peace and calm and more easily spread, but fear doesn’t have to rule you. It doesn’t have to control your thoughts and feelings. I like this line from the song, ‘When you believe’.

“Now we are not afraid Although we know there’s much to fear.”

Why are we not afraid? Or how do we become less afraid? “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.” Isaiah 41:10.

“Do not fear, for I am with you.” The knowledge that God is with us, especially when things are out of our control, is a great antidote to fear. The God who loves us and is with us will strengthen and help us.

But amid crisis and panic, we easily lose the awareness that God is with us. We must remind ourselves that however things are, God is with us. This knowledge produces the faith needed to banish fear or at least put it in its rightful place — that of a useful servant rather than a tyrannical master.

Isaiah had this awareness, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Difficulties allow us to clearly see our responses and our spiritual state. Something we rarely get when life is easy and uncomplicated. And we have this wonderful opportunity for change — “Challenges that tax our faith are also opportunities to stretch and strengthen our faith.” David shows us how,

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3.

The best response to fear is putting our trust in God. Confidence in God is a foundation stone of our lives and gives strength in the midst of trials and fruitfulness at a time when fruit is often in short supply.

“Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 7–8.

When the heat comes they shall not fear, their leaves stay green. In a year of drought they will not be anxious, they will still bear fruit.

If fear is troubling you, take the opportunity to grow your trust in God. Here’s two things that might help:

- Talk to God. Lots. “And those who know your name put their trust in you….” Psalm 9:10. The more we know God the more we are able to put our trust in Him. Talking to Him helps.

- Remind yourself who God is and what He’s done. “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17. Faith comes as we remind ourselves of God’s promises and character.

God bless and take care.