Not the Spirit of Fear

By Dr. Michael G. Loftis, President of ABWE

What feelings did you have when you first saw images of the World Trade Center towers collapsing? Fear? Panic? Dread? Were you filled with the desire to run for cover? Did you begin to look over your shoulder? Or did you immediately begin to pray? What of those who live and minister constantly in the midst of conflict and even terror?

Some of the greatest leaders in the Bible struggled with fear. Abraham struggled with fear and almost lost his wife and the opportunity to fulfill the promise of God. Moses' struggle with fear nearly kept him from accepting one of the greatest leadership roles in history. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes, "For, when we were come to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were conflicts, within were fears" (7:5).

Having spent years traveling into Eastern Europe both before and after communism, and more recently in the Balkans during the conflicts in Bosnia , Kosova, and Albania , I experienced life under conditions of fear. Often, national partners and fellow missionaries asked, "Do you think the Christians back home are praying for us now?"

Just after the September 11, 2001, incident in New York City , I remember wondering, "Will Christian people be so gripped by fear for the future that they will cease to give?" I was humbled by the many hundreds who called to assure us they would remain on duty, faithfully fulfilling their commitments to support our missionaries around the world. ABWE ended that year in the black.

I recently flew into one of the most terror-plagued cities in the world to visit ABWE missionaries. A car bomb had exploded the day before I arrived. I studied the missionaries' demeanor for signs of stress and fear. As always, I was amazed at the power of God's Word to calm their hearts and focus their daily lives.

We live in a world filled with uncertainty, terror, and war. We should not be surprised. Jesus predicted that we would continue to experience wars and rumors of wars until the end, but that we were not to live in a spirit of alarm or panic. Instead, we should seek to encourage our missionaries-and one another-to approach our daily lives with confidence in God's promises, boldness to proclaim the gospel, love for those around us in need, and discipline to maintain a steady course of obedience in the face of uncertainty.