Fear and Locked Doors
Here we are today, one week after Resurrection Sunday. I’m thankful the Easter Story provides us with even more chilling and awe-inspiring true stories beyond the resurrection.
John the Apostle wrote this in John 20:19 — “That evening of the first day of the week, WHEN THE DOORS WERE LOCKED, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with you!” Locked doors could not keep Jesus out!
Out of fear, the disciples locked the door and shut themselves off from the rest of the world. And what does Jesus do? He shows up in spite of locked doors and says: “Peace be with you!” Can you imagine? “Here today and gone tomorrow. Gone yesterday, here today!” Abracadabra! The Prince of Peace was right there!
The disciples were afraid so they were hiding. Bless their hearts. I can’t blame them. The Lord had been crucified and maybe they were next. They didn’t grasp the words of Jesus that they had heard throughout the three years they were with Him. Over and over again, He said: “Do not fear!” “Do not be afraid!”
My blog today is a “call to arms” — arms to be raised in surrender to our Lord that if He said it, we believe it and that settles it. “WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID.”
Today, you may be struggling in fear — spiritually, emotionally and physically. You may be really afraid. It’s okay. We’ve all felt that way; we’ve all been there. And what we want to do when we are afraid, is lock the doors. DON”T DO IT!
Hear the words of Jesus – “Peace be with you!” That sounds like the Prince of Peace is commanding peace to be with them…..and to be with you and me. In that command, He assures us He has us. He has this. He’s alive. He has overcome. We don’t have to be afraid. We don’t. Trust. Love. Laugh. Live. We don’t have to lock the doors of our hearts anymore. We can trust. We can. Today, and each day.
We can’t protect ourselves from pain. But every day we can choose faith, joy, and peace over fear.
Suddenly Jesus was in the disciples’ presence. Fear must bow to the presence of God. When we invite Him into our circumstances, peace comes in with Him. Suddenly everything He said over and over again was true. The disciples had a history with Him and so do I.
I survived many crises and I’m still standing. The faithful God of my past is my trustworthy and faithful God today. When I’m afraid, I welcome His presence into my room and my heart – by turning on worship music, finding solace in prayer and fellowship with other faith-filled friends.
Bottom line, I chase fear away with knowing that right in the middle of my “locked doors” is Jesus in the room with me and because He’s here, I know Romans 8:28 will be the end result! “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.”
May we unlock the door of our hearts today. We won’t give into fear. We welcome the sweet presence of Jesus in and we receive His peace!