Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 1343 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Fear or Faith – Ask Gramps
Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase wisdom and create a living legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1343 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series.
Each Friday, we ponder some of the fundamental truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.”
Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, this is not possible. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas.
We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but we will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com.
So the question for this week is…
“Hey Gramps, it seems like so many people become fearful and panic over everything these days, even those things that we have little or no control over. From my observation, it appears to be true for those who are Christ-followers, and those who are not. How can I prevent myself from falling into the same trap, and also then also help others not to be fearful?”
Fear or Faith
Let me ask you a question before we explore how to live without fear. What’s your worst fear? What is it that keeps you awake at night? It seems like these days there are plenty of things to choose from. It could be the most recent global pandemic or other illnesses that seem to come to our attention, only to pass and quickly leave our minds. Here in the United States, as with most western countries that have open elections, we become panicked over the upcoming presidential elections. In our minds, regardless of which side we are on, we just know if our candidate doesn’t win, everything is going to fall apart.
For many others, the horror of the day is the economy. Banks failing, stocks falling around the world, taxpayer money going to save financial institutions, and huge corporations who seem to be pulling the political purse strings. With the proliferation of social media and the constant 24/7 talking heads on our news stations, we are lead to believe that the news seems to get bleaker by the day.
Many others are still picking up the pieces from recent natural disasters. We’ve had hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and hosts of other catastrophes. For a lot of people, tomorrow isn’t their problem; they don’t know how to get through today.
Many of us, though, have found fear in our own personal terrors. Health issues. Death of a loved one. Relationship trouble. Addictions. Legal problems. Financial ruin. Crises don’t have to appear on the national news to have a significant impact on our lives. Some of these problems are self-inflicted; others come to us through no fault of our own.
So, let me ask you again, what’s your worst fear? What robs you of peace? What clouds your view of the horizon? Whatever it is, wouldn’t it be nice to get rid of it? Wouldn’t it be nice to help others overcome their fears also? Maybe I can’t fix all of your problems or rid you of all your worries, but I can tell you how to recover your peace and perhaps even get to where you can sleep at night. When I need guidance for the myriad of challenges that I face, I look for wise advice, which you can find in God’s Word.
Jesus Christ is the master teacher and this is what he has to say about worry. Let me read Luke 12:22-32.
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”
We need to understand that there are very few issues and fears in life that we have control over. If we cannot control it, then we should not be fearful of it. If you do have some control over an issue, do what you can, but then allow God to handle the outcome.
Another sage teacher, the Apostle Paul, wrote many years ago in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
“Sure,” you say. “Easy for this guy Paul. He wasn’t facing what I’m facing.” While that’s probably true, Paul certainly was not living the life of ease when he wrote those words. He was in chains in a Roman jail cell. He wasn’t serving out a sentence; he was awaiting a probable execution.
So listen to the words of Jesus and Paul. They both knew how to face fear. As Paul said, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” Just as I am sharing today, you can also help others in the same manner. Teach others to take all of those problems, bundle them up, and give them to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The antidote to fear and worry is always faith that God is in control. Do what you can, leave the rest to God.
That is a wrap for today’s question. Join us again next Friday for another question on our Ask Gramps episode. Our next trek is Mediation Monday, where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1342 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most of all, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.
As we take this trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!
Since the books of the prophets are grouped together in English Bibles, it appears to most Bible readers that the prophets lived and ministered at roughly the same time. That isn’t the case.
For example, Ezekiel’s prophecy opens at the river Chebar in Babylon, allowing us to know he was among the captives taken from Judah. Hosea’s book begins with the list of the same kings who reigned during Isaiah’s lifetime (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah). Hosea ministered in to the apostate northern kingdom, since he mentions the threat of Assyria (Hosea 8:8—9) and focuses on the northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah, on the other hand, focuses on Judah and its environs.
One of the things that Dr. Heiser specifies that he noticed with great regularity during his teaching career is the overwhelming propensity of Bible readers to assume that much of what is written in the Old Testament prophets is speaking to a time yet future to us. Over and over again, whether in his class discussion or their written work, students would take phrases about the “return” of Israel or the restoration of temple worship as speaking about end times in relation to their own lives. The opposite is, in fact, the case. A couple of passages illustrate the problem. Let’s first look at 
If you would like to listen to any of our past 1340 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.
Our soul, that is who we are at our very essence, was created in love. What I am referring to here is the love that can only come from God. It is beautifully described in 
We cannot live properly until we know how to love properly. Perfect love is not based on conditions, but is unconditional. Perfect love is not afraid, because perfect love expels all fears. Once we experience God’s perfect love, we can live properly, because we will know how to love properly. It is best summed up in 
If you would like to listen to any of our past 1339 treks or read the Wisdom Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.
We all have faith in our lives, even when we do not recognize that we do. When was the last time you thought whether your favorite chair would hold you when you sat in it? When was the last time, when going to bed, that you wondered if it would collapse? Probably a very long time, if ever. How much faith do you need to sit in your chair, or lie down in your bed? I would venture to say, very little faith. Why is that? It is because you are familiar with your chair and bed, and based on many days or nights of trusting them, you are confident that they would support you.
Instead of concentrating on the strength of our faith, we must focus on the object of our faith, which is Jesus Christ. A parallel passage to the one I read which gives another detail is Mark 9:21-24 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1338 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player, so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.