“Please pray. I can’t get ahold of _____. When I called his phone a traffic officer answered and said my close friend was not good, but he wouldn’t give me further information.”

This Facebook message from across the world came way too early one morning. This dear sister’s heart struggled with the unknown. Fear seemed to be rattling loudly as it moved in quickly to confine her soul.

The chains of fear contain links of helplessness. When we face uncontrollable circumstances like my friend’s, or like the disciples’, as water poured into their boat, we too may cry, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8)

Lying next to the confinement of helplessness, however, a deep gift lies. Our lack of power flattens us. It is then, from this humble posture, that God seems most able to catch our attention. Our eyes see facets of Him hidden from our previous view, and His true sovereignty and wisdom start to cut through our chains of bondage. 

Could it be possible that one of the reasons He allows the uncontrollable, which often pushes our emotions toward fear, is precisely to get us into a position where we can focus on Him? In Exodus, God forced the Israelites up against the Red Sea by chariots, horses and the captains of Egypt. Panicked, they were sure they would die. Moses, however, pointed them away from their helplessness and toward our all-powerful God. He said to them: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14) 

When fear confines, God refines. His purpose is not for captivity but for the freedom that comes from knowing Him.