Fear Not

Being There for Each Other

Being There for Each Other

Chapter 48

December 24

2 Chronicles 32:7-8

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the King of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

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Preface

There's a reason that the marital vows include the promise of being there for one's partner "in good times and bad." Most of us understand that the threats we face and overcome together are the type of experiences that strengthen a bond more effectively than any amount of easy, fun times.

It's the stuff of building a team connection. From football players to brothers in arms. From business partners to even cellies (roommates) in prison.

When a serious threat presented itself, the thing we learned about our partner is: 'You proved you are someone I could count on.' Adding that to the filter through which we look at each other generates a far more profound connection than "They make me laugh" by itself ever will.

We truly don't know a person until we've faced and gone through a crisis with them. Even if ultimately we lost, just knowing that they were there by our side through it all, having our back, letting us have theirs, provides valuable insight into their character.

All the laughing and happiness in the world will never reveal whether or not a person will cut and run when things get tough.

Do we know if our partner will sever the connection to save their own skin at the expense of our wellbeing?

Good times are effortless. They're surface material. It's only during the hard times when we're able to see the core of a person.

God knows this. So a committed relationship with Him shouldn't just be belief as some sort of just-in-case shot-in-the-dark position to prevent oneself from going to hell. With such a superficial connection, anytime anything in life doesn't work out, becomes challenging, or threatens loss or harm, it's too easy to cut and run, blaming God instead of calling Him like we would a friend.

Superficiality doesn't have calling for help as a readily available option to consider. And fear will only look to worldly refuge for help.

Like those vows, there's a reason why certain game shows have "Call a Friend" as an option to garner help to answer a question. What is it about such a person that made them the person we chose to be available for our call if we should need them?

In life, who wants a partner on whom we can't rely to be there when it matters?

We'll experience having unexpected hardships show up at the worst of times and the best of times. Fear wants only good and has a tantrum when reality disenchants this illusion. Faith, on the other hand, understands that good and bad doesn't matter, when we have a partner like God, and friends and family who emulate the most appreciated aspects of His light and love. We're going to get through it all the same, and on the other side of it our faith will have been made all the stronger.

It's like the socially awkward student in school who's best friend is the captain of the football team.

If we knew that every time we called out for help from God, He'd show up and take care of it, what then would we do for a partner like that?