Fear-free Courage?

My second oldest son, David, decided to do a tandem skydive and invited me to come along. We had been discussing this for a few years, and now the right opportunity had presented itself! It was a unique experience, starting with the copious paperwork you signed to release the skydiving company from all liability. The message was that this can be a perilous experience where things can go wrong, and you must go into this endeavor with that understanding. To be forewarned is to be forearmed – fair enough! Next, we suited up, put on a harness, received training on our responsibilities during the jump, boarded the small single-engine plane, and slowly climbed to approximately 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). This slow climb gives you additional time to reflect on what you are about to do – jump out of a perfectly good airplane!

Once at jump altitude, the instructor had me squat on my knees, facing away from him, and then he connected to my harness at both of my shoulders and both of my hips. I realized at that moment that those four connections were the only thing that attached me to the instructor, who had the main and backup parachutes strapped to his body. If they were to come unattached, I would not have a parachute to arrest my fall!

Next, the thin Plexiglas door I had been seated next to was opened, exposing me to the 100 mph (approximately 161 kph) wind created by the airplane’s speed. I was then instructed to place my feet on a small metal plank outside the airplane door. Yes, my mind flashed back to a picture of some poor soul being forced to “walk the plank” in the days of tall ships! It took considerable effort to keep both feet on the metal plank, with the wind attempting to push them off.

The instructor then directed me to cross my arms over my chest as I sat on the floor of the plane with my feet on the plank. The crossing of your arms is done to prevent you from grabbing some part of the plane, thus putting both you and the connected instructor’s lives in jeopardy as you jump. It could also be seen as the final act of surrender as you are now completely yielded (arms crossed over your heart or rather heart yielded to the cross!) to the one that has performed this evolution thousands of times before (i.e., the instructor). Suddenly, the “leap of faith” occurs, and you are out of the airplane with a surrealistic 360-degree view of Earth!

Realize, I jumped out of the airplane, not in my ability but rather faith in the instructor’s ability to whom I was connected. Furthermore, as I yielded to the instructor’s directions, the jump was actually effortless on my part (1). Again, I did not have to have faith in my ability to take the leap of faith but rather, faith in this seasoned instructor’s ability!

The same is true when living out our faith in Jesus in this world. That is, we are not to have faith in our ability but rather His ability!

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NET)

I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NET)

I found it surprising how fast the airplane disappeared behind us as we accelerated from 0 downward speed to 60 mph (97 kph) in 3 seconds, 0 to 100 mph (161 kph) in 7 seconds, and to terminal velocity (3) in the belly down position (approximately 120 mph or 193 kph) within the first 17 seconds due to the acceleration of gravity (32 ft/sec/sec or 9.8 m/sec/sec). Free falling at this speed, we covered half the 10,000-foot (3,048 meters) distance to the ground in the first 33 seconds, which is approximately when the instructor opened the main parachute.

Realize that if this main chute failed to open correctly, it must be jettisoned, and the reserve parachute deployed within 25 seconds to allow time for deceleration before ground contact. If both chutes failed, contact with the ground would occur at time 62 seconds from jumping out of the plane. That is, there is not much margin for error! 

After the main parachute was deployed, it was enjoyable except for one tight, nauseating turn. It made me momentarily reflect on my poor choice of eating spaghetti for lunch, which the “still, small voice” (1) had cautioned me about earlier.

After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:12–13 NET)

And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice. When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:12–13 AMP)

Then, I gently glided down to the landing site, where I could see my son David, who had jumped after me and made it to the ground before me. They landed first due to their free-falling a few seconds longer at 120 mph (176 ft/sec) as the other instructor ensured our parachute opened. Thus, they would be clear of us before opening theirs.

Before this tandem jump, I had sought the Lord in a fitting way to give Him honor as I was free-falling. Consequently, I was led by the Holy Spirit to quote Psalm 91 during the free fall. I also purchased the option to have a video recorded of the jump, which I shared with my friends and associates. The majority reacted with praise for having the courage to jump out of a plane! However, a few stated that I looked scared before exiting the airplane. I have to admit feeling “annoyed” at such a remark, but I have learned over the years to seek the Lord to understand what may be at the root of such a feeling. First, I looked up the definition of the word courage.

Courage – mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty (2)

With this definition, I understood that courage only exists when fear exists. That is, if there is no danger, fear, or difficulty, then courage is unnecessary. So, after flying up to approximately 10,000 feet in a small single-engine plane, seated beside a thin Plexiglas door, and then maneuvering my body out that door in preparation for falling from the airplane for the first time. Yes, I had to resist fear!

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 NET)

Again, you are courageous if you feel fear and proceed despite it! If you feel no fear, no courage is required; therefore, this article’s title phrase, “fear-free courage,” is an oxymoron. I also quoted Psalms 91 on the way to jumping altitude to overcome fear. I routinely quote this as it is my passage of choice if fear attacks in any situation.

Psalms 91

Let us explore Psalm 91 together to see what protection God offers and how to appropriate it in our lives!

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the sovereign One, and resides in the protective shadow of the mighty king–  (Psalm 91:1 NET)

First of all, this Psalm will protect someone who lives in the presence of God and not merely someone who visits on occasion (e.g., just visits God at a church on Sunday).

I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust–  he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague. He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.  (Psalm 91:2-4 NET)

Yes, what you say is important! Realize that what you speak with your mouth grows in your spiritual heart (1) for good or bad. Then, in an emergency situation, what has grown abundantly in your heart is what comes out of your mouth. At that moment, you can either speak words of life or death – choose life that you may live! Furthermore, His faithfulness to keep His word (i.e., His truth) is our shield (1).

The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart. (Luke 6:45 NET)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NET)

“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways. (Job 22:28 LSB)

You need not fear the terrors of the night, the arrow that flies by day,  the plague that comes in the darkness, or the disease that comes at noon. Though a thousand may fall beside you, and a multitude on your right side, it will not reach you. Certainly, you will see it with your very own eyes– you will see the wicked paid back.  (Psalm 91:5-8 NET).

An impressive list of protection that God provides for those who live in His presence! Paranoia at night, Ebola, ISIS, CVID-19, etc., are all covered! In addition, God will pay back the wicked!

For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, (2 Thessalonians 1:6 NET)

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19–21 NET)

For you have taken refuge in the LORD, my shelter, the sovereign One. No harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home.  (Psalm 91:9,10 NET)

Again, why do you have this protection? Because you have chosen to make His home your home by living in His presence and not just visiting! That is, you must first be submitted to God’s authority (i.e., obedient to Him) if you expect Satan to flee from you when you resist him. Again, you must be submitted to God’s authority to wield it against Satan.

So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. (James 4:7–10 NET)

Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him belongs the power forever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:8–11 NET)

The more obedient, the more authority (1) you will be entrusted with to wield His power!

We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:6 NET)

This level of submission is inculcated by living in God’s presence (1) through unceasing communication with God (i.e., prayer) and fasting.

Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:28–29 NET)

And he having come into the house, his disciples were questioning him by himself—‘Why were we not able to cast it forth?’ And he said to them, ‘This kind is able to come forth with nothing except with prayer and fasting.’ (Mark 9:28–29 YLT)

Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NET)

With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18 NET)

For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do.  They will lift you up in their hands, so you will not slip and fall on a stone. (NET  Psalm 91:11-12)

Now we see how we are protected! It is the Angels of God (1) fighting on our behalf and rescuing us! The first part of this verse is what Satan (a fallen angel) quoted to Jesus during His wilderness temptation (1).

Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” (Matthew 4:5–7 NET)

You will subdue a lion and a snake; you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent. (NET  Psalm 91:13)

However, Satan left off the second part about subduing and trampling a young lion and serpent, which referred to his destruction by Jesus!

The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 NET)

Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NET)

Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19–20 NET)

He seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and tied him up for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2 NET)

The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20 NET)

The LORD says, "Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me.  (NET  Psalm 91:14)

This verse provides a further understanding of how to enable this protection. “BECAUSE we are DEVOTED to Him” and “BECAUSE we are LOYAL to Him!”

The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them. (Psalm 25:14 NET)

This includes accepting the Lord Jesus as a personal savior (1) and living to become just like Him in all you say, do, think, or believe as His disciples. Being a disciple includes being disciplined to obey Him.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. (John 14:23–24 NET)

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46 NET)

When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.  I will satisfy him with long life, and will let him see my salvation.  (NET  Psalm 91:15,16)

The Psalm concludes with a promise to answer prayer (1), be with us in times of trouble, rescue, honor, and provide a long life on this Earth and the next life in Heaven with Him for those that have met the conditions of this Psalm (i.e., met the “BECAUSEs” of this Psalm). Amen!

The Early Church Resists Fear

Another example from the Bible was when the early church was threatened; they chose not to be paralyzed by fear, but by praying, they released God’s courage in their lives.

When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, "Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,  who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?  The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.'  "For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,  to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen.  And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously. (Acts 4:24-31 NET) 

Note: The “Hand of God” is metaphorically God the Holy Spirit:

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. (Matthew 12:28 NET)

But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. (Luke 11:20 NET)

This same prayer (1) will provide similar results for us today!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8 NET)

Furthermore, the admonition that Moses gave to Israel and Joshua, who had the daunting task of conquering the nations in the Promised Land, can encourage us today as well:

Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!" Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the LORD promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. The LORD is indeed going before you– he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!"(Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NET)

God Admonishes Joshua to be Brave

A similar admonition that the Lord God gave to Joshua concerning conquering the Promised Land:

After Moses the LORD's servant died, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant: "Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.  I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do. (NET Joshua 1:1-9)

Conclusion

In conclusion, be strong and courageous in the face of fear! Do not let fear control you, for the Lord our God is with us! He has given us the Holy Spirit (1) of courage and not the spirit of fear.

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously. (Acts 4:31 NET)

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 NET)

If you feel paralyzed by fear, start quoting Psalms 91 to God, and you will feel His peace replace the fear!

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 NET)

The Lord’s messenger appeared and said to him, “The Lord is with you, courageous warrior!” (Judges 6:12 NET)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18 NET)

The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8 NET)

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Shalom
(Security, Wholeness, Success)
Peace

Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.” (Matthew 13:52 NET)

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(1) Select the link to open another article with additional information in a new tab.

(2) “Courage.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2014. 

(3) The terminal velocity of a falling body occurs during free fall when a falling body experiences zero acceleration. This is because of the retarding force known as air resistance. Air resistance exists because air molecules collide with a falling body, creating an upward force opposite to gravity. This upward force will eventually balance the falling body’s weight. It will continue to fall at a constant velocity known as the terminal velocity.