Dont panic

 I bet you didn't know that the word  'panic' comes from the greek god Pan - one of the oldest Greek gods about whom there are many tales and legends.  One story involving Pan is the tale of war, in which Pan helps his friend survive a vicious struggle by letting out an immense cry that frightens the enemy and causes him to run away. From this story, we get the word “panic,” the sudden, uncontrollable fear that leads people into irrational behaviour.  

Panic is more than fear  Its a fear which leads to people doing irrational things.  Panic leads to stampedes and crushes.  It leads to acts of violence and desperation.  It comes upon us suddenly and it doesnt listen to logic.  Its a real and powerful force and it is not from God.

As we watch petrol prices soring and hear talk of food shortages and all the rest its easy to feel afraid.  How would we cope if..... what will happen when.....?   But if we listen to the whispers of fear which so easily come at us through the onslaught of the news, we open ourselves up to panic.  Part of the definition of panic is that its an ' uncontrollable' thing.  People who suffer panic attacks find themselves suddenly experiencing symptoms which they cannot control - even though they might know perfectly well what is happening to them.  Its as though the panic moves in and takes over people's very being.   Interestingly the Bible tells us 

 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Ive never before seen the connection between fear and self control.  Fear ( and in particular panic) makes us weak and powerless, tells us we are unloved and cast aside and removes from us that ability to control our emotional and physical responses.  God's Spirit in us is exactly the opposite of panic.  His Spirit fills us with courage, convinces us that we are loved ( and therefore secure) and enables us to take charge of our emotional and physical responses.  

 

So why. if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, can we still sometimes feel that rising tide of fear and even panic?  Well, I'm not sure I have the full and definitive answer to that, but I suspect that part of the answer lies in that word ' self -control'.    The Holy Spirit gives us power and love and self control.  But self control is also a fruit of the spirit.  So it is not only a gift given, but something we need to cultivate and grow in our lives.  We need to learn how to control our responses to things and the way we think about things.  Taking every thought captive is our job, not God's job.   He isn't, I don't think , going to take away our fears.  But He is going to help us get control of our thought processes, identify the lies we believe,  identify the threats we face and encourage us to bring them to the source of power and love who is greater than he who is in the world.   We are active participants in the war on fear  Fear is an enemy and God is its antidote.  Perfect love casts out fear.

So let us welcome more of the Holy Spirit into our lives every moment of every day.  Let us intentionally ask for better, greater, deeper self control to be operating and growing in our characters.  As fear lurks at the door let's decide to keep that door well and truly shut. We have got more important things to be doing than having doorstep conversations with our fears.  And if watching the news gives you a sense of rising panic then turn off the news and go and read the Psalms instead.