37. OVERCOMING FEAR
Is it possible that fear is merely the result of not trusting in God?
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Fear. It is just a four-letter word, and yet it has a lot of power over us. People are afraid of spiders, snakes, not having enough money, loosing a lover, terrorism, earthquakes, disease and even the future. We are afraid of what we can see and what we can’t see. And let us not forget death! But what if all this fear is in vain? Is it possible that fear is merely the result of not trusting in God? Let’s explore that very idea.
Can’s friends always thought of him as a tough man. If something heavy needed to be lifted, he could do it all by himself. He would just lean down, lift the object onto his back, and stand up. One of his friends still loves to tell what he witnessed:
“I remember that day like it was yesterday. In fact, I won’t forget it until the day I die. Can picked up a refrigerator and carried it up four flights of stairs. He didn’t even stop to take a break. If it were any other man, I believe it would have ruined his back forever.”
But in spite of his extraordinary shows of strength, Can was still just an ordinary man. A man, who, like everyone else, found himself helpless against something he couldn't even see. No matter how hard he tried, it couldn’t be beaten with strength or cunning. And there was no use in trying to hide from it because it was everywhere. So, he just followed tradition and tried to control it. Or did it control him?
Now Can wasn’t a very religious guy, but he did believe in God. So when he bought his new dump truck he had “Allah Korusun” painted on the front and back. But just in case, he also had a big, blue nazar symbol painted on the tailgate. After all, he didn’t want to invite any unwanted accidents or breakdowns. But his fear of the unseen wasn’t only limited to material things like his house and car which also had little blue beads attached in strategic locations. It also included his wife for whom he bought necklaces and bracelets. No matter what it was, if it was of value to Can, he would protect it with a blue bead.
When his daughter Deniz was born, he attached a little blue bead to her clothes and hung a larger bead above her door. Can and his wife knew that Deniz was an exceptionally cute girl, but they thought that calling her ugly and dirty would protect her. So they continued the tradition until Deniz grew into a young woman. But one day, an old man asked Can a question that he couldn’t answer.
“Can, do you believe in God?”
“Yes, of course I do! Show me a real Turk who doesn’t.” Can replied.
“Then why are you so afraid of nazar? Why do you hang those blue beads on everything? Don’t you think that God is more powerful than a bead? Can, why don’t you trust God?”
Can didn’t know what to say. He just stood there for a few seconds and stared at the old man. He was never one to make excuses and after seeing the wisdom in the old man’s questions, he turned around and walked away.
Throughout the Bible, there are many stories of how people overcame fear and became subjects of fear. And interestingly, the ones who trusted God the most were the least afraid. Perhaps the most famous story involved a young man named David who later became the King of Israel.
At the time, the Israelites and Philistines were at war. The armies had assembled along the sides of a large valley and set up camp. But neither side wanted to attack first because it would make them vulnerable. Except for the use of modern weapons and battle tactics, it was similar to the stalemates of trench warfare during World War I. And just like WWI when the soldiers would yell insults back and forth, there was a man who openly challenged the Israelites. Let’s start reading the story in 1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 4-11:
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was ve thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to ght with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may ght together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Goliath was a huge man! If you have ever seen a professional basketball player, it is about the closest you will ever get to understanding how big Goliath was. According to modern estimates, Goliath was close to 3 meters tall. That means he would have made Shaquille O’Neal look small. Can you imagine the fear that this man created in the hearts and minds of any opponent? Well that is exactly what happened when he challenged the Israelites. So much so that every man, even King Saul, didn’t know what to do!
Now in those days, it was common for the family to send provisions to the army and to get news. So David’s father, Jesse, sent him with some bread and cheese. He wanted to know if his three oldest sons were okay. Let’s continue in chapter 17 verses 20-23:
20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
For a young boy, the scene must have been amazing. Tents were set up and soldiers were sharpening their swords and spears. Archers were preparing arrows while the ags were blowing in the wind. As David arrived he couldn’t help but be intrigued, so he ran among the soldiers looking for his brothers. While he was speaking to them, the largest man he had ever seen walked into the valley that separated the two armies.
Once again Goliath challenged the Israelites. Just like the 40 days before, none of the soldiers responded. And it wasn’t like the soldier who killed Goliath would go unrewarded. King Saul promised that he would get his daughter and riches. But it was all in vain because the soldiers’ fear suppressed their desire for fame. They were too scared to act. David, after learning of the reward, asked a powerful question:
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
David made an excellent point! The men assembled for war did not represent Israel as much as they did God. And the God that David
spoke about wasn’t stone, wood, or animals. He was the living God, the Creator, and Fulfiller of Promises; the same one that exists today. King Saul’s army didn’t have any reason to be afraid and David knew this. But unlike most people who pretend to be brave and never do anything, David was ready to back up his words with actions. Let’s continue with verses 31-37:
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and ght with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to ght with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth. 34 But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the ock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has de ed the armies of the living God. 37 And David said, The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you!
Those are confident words coming from David’s mouth. But he didn’t speak out of pride and self-promotion. Regardless of the success he had as a shepherd and the victories he had won against wild animals, He knew that God protected him. And if God didn’t allow lions and bears to kill him, an uncircumcised Philistine didn’t stand a chance.
After hearing David speak and seeing his con dence, King Saul gave David permission to ght. But things weren’t going to happen like King Saul thought. Let's read about it in verses 38-40:
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, I cannot
go with these, for I have not tested them. So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose ve smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
If you were going to fight a seasoned warrior would you choose the armor and sword or a staff and sling? For those of us who regularly try to solve our problems through logic and common sense, the armor and sword would be the preferred choice. But David was different. It’s not that he wasn’t smart; he simply trusted God. He would enter this battle with the same thing he had in the elds, the con dence that God would make him successful. Well what do you think happened next? Let’s nd out in verses 41-47:
41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your esh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the eld. 45 Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have de ed. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.
As if Goliath’s size wasn’t scary enough, he began to curse at David in the name of his gods trying to intimidate him. But David wasn’t afraid of Goliath’s size, weapons, or words. He stood in front of both armies and made it known that God was greater than any weapon, false god, or evil force. This battle was not David's, it was God's. Goliath, because of his pompousness, pride, idolatry, and de ance, was going to die the death that he deserved. Let’s see how God made David victorious. We can read the outcome in verses 48-51:
48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Reread verse 48 again. Did David stand there and wait for Goliath to get close? No, he ran towards him and initiated the attack. He was able to act because he wasn’t afraid. He didn’t just believe in God, he trusted Him with his life and knew that God would protect him. We actually see the same principle in horses.
Horses are by nature very skittish animals. They get startled easily and can be afraid of almost anything. So how do you get a horse, which is naturally afraid, to be a great racehorse or to charge into battle? Well the trainer/rider needs to work with it and build a relationship. As times goes on the horse becomes less afraid and willing to follow the lead of its owner/rider. Its fear is replaced with trust!
Before fighting Goliath, David had an experience with God. He had learned to trust and depend on the Lord. So when the situation got hard, there just simply wasn’t any room in his heart or mind for fear. David didn't see a giant, he saw God. The Philistine army, Goliath, Goliath's false gods, and the fear of defeat had no power over Him because he knew that the power of God was greater.
There are many fearful things in life. But we don't have to live a life of fear. Things like spiders, snakes, dogs, lack of money, terrorism, earthquakes, disease, and even the uncertain future are all a part of life. But they don't need to rule us or have control over us. We just need to trust that God loves us, cares for us, and will never leave us to defend ourselves. Instead of trusting in charms, amulets, and beads, trust in God!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think Can continued using nazar beads? Do you use them?
2. Which do you think is more powerful: the One who made human hands or the blue beads made by human hands?
3. Why was David so con dent that God would protect him?
4. Why do you think David only took a sling and ve stones?
5. Goliath came out for 40 days and challenged the Israelites. The things we fear in life are just like Goliath. They are constantly
bothering us and holding us down. Is there a “Goliath” in your life that scares you? Is it something that keeps you awake at night,
causes stress, or worry?
6. Do you think God can do for you what He did for David? If not, how can you learn to trust God more?
Can’s friends always thought of him as a tough man. If something heavy needed to be lifted, he could do it all by himself. He would just lean down, lift the object onto his back, and stand up. One of his friends still loves to tell what he witnessed:
“I remember that day like it was yesterday. In fact, I won’t forget it until the day I die. Can picked up a refrigerator and carried it up four flights of stairs. He didn’t even stop to take a break. If it were any other man, I believe it would have ruined his back forever.”
But in spite of his extraordinary shows of strength, Can was still just an ordinary man. A man, who, like everyone else, found himself helpless against something he couldn't even see. No matter how hard he tried, it couldn’t be beaten with strength or cunning. And there was no use in trying to hide from it because it was everywhere. So, he just followed tradition and tried to control it. Or did it control him?
Now Can wasn’t a very religious guy, but he did believe in God. So when he bought his new dump truck he had “Allah Korusun” painted on the front and back. But just in case, he also had a big, blue nazar symbol painted on the tailgate. After all, he didn’t want to invite any unwanted accidents or breakdowns. But his fear of the unseen wasn’t only limited to material things like his house and car which also had little blue beads attached in strategic locations. It also included his wife for whom he bought necklaces and bracelets. No matter what it was, if it was of value to Can, he would protect it with a blue bead.
When his daughter Deniz was born, he attached a little blue bead to her clothes and hung a larger bead above her door. Can and his wife knew that Deniz was an exceptionally cute girl, but they thought that calling her ugly and dirty would protect her. So they continued the tradition until Deniz grew into a young woman. But one day, an old man asked Can a question that he couldn’t answer.
“Can, do you believe in God?”
“Yes, of course I do! Show me a real Turk who doesn’t.” Can replied.
“Then why are you so afraid of nazar? Why do you hang those blue beads on everything? Don’t you think that God is more powerful than a bead? Can, why don’t you trust God?”
Can didn’t know what to say. He just stood there for a few seconds and stared at the old man. He was never one to make excuses and after seeing the wisdom in the old man’s questions, he turned around and walked away.
Throughout the Bible, there are many stories of how people overcame fear and became subjects of fear. And interestingly, the ones who trusted God the most were the least afraid. Perhaps the most famous story involved a young man named David who later became the King of Israel.
At the time, the Israelites and Philistines were at war. The armies had assembled along the sides of a large valley and set up camp. But neither side wanted to attack first because it would make them vulnerable. Except for the use of modern weapons and battle tactics, it was similar to the stalemates of trench warfare during World War I. And just like WWI when the soldiers would yell insults back and forth, there was a man who openly challenged the Israelites. Let’s start reading the story in 1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 4-11:
4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was ve thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to ght with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may ght together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Goliath was a huge man! If you have ever seen a professional basketball player, it is about the closest you will ever get to understanding how big Goliath was. According to modern estimates, Goliath was close to 3 meters tall. That means he would have made Shaquille O’Neal look small. Can you imagine the fear that this man created in the hearts and minds of any opponent? Well that is exactly what happened when he challenged the Israelites. So much so that every man, even King Saul, didn’t know what to do!
Now in those days, it was common for the family to send provisions to the army and to get news. So David’s father, Jesse, sent him with some bread and cheese. He wanted to know if his three oldest sons were okay. Let’s continue in chapter 17 verses 20-23:
20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
For a young boy, the scene must have been amazing. Tents were set up and soldiers were sharpening their swords and spears. Archers were preparing arrows while the ags were blowing in the wind. As David arrived he couldn’t help but be intrigued, so he ran among the soldiers looking for his brothers. While he was speaking to them, the largest man he had ever seen walked into the valley that separated the two armies.
Once again Goliath challenged the Israelites. Just like the 40 days before, none of the soldiers responded. And it wasn’t like the soldier who killed Goliath would go unrewarded. King Saul promised that he would get his daughter and riches. But it was all in vain because the soldiers’ fear suppressed their desire for fame. They were too scared to act. David, after learning of the reward, asked a powerful question:
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
David made an excellent point! The men assembled for war did not represent Israel as much as they did God. And the God that David
spoke about wasn’t stone, wood, or animals. He was the living God, the Creator, and Fulfiller of Promises; the same one that exists today. King Saul’s army didn’t have any reason to be afraid and David knew this. But unlike most people who pretend to be brave and never do anything, David was ready to back up his words with actions. Let’s continue with verses 31-37:
31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and ght with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to ght with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth. 34 But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the ock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has de ed the armies of the living God. 37 And David said, The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you!
Those are confident words coming from David’s mouth. But he didn’t speak out of pride and self-promotion. Regardless of the success he had as a shepherd and the victories he had won against wild animals, He knew that God protected him. And if God didn’t allow lions and bears to kill him, an uncircumcised Philistine didn’t stand a chance.
After hearing David speak and seeing his con dence, King Saul gave David permission to ght. But things weren’t going to happen like King Saul thought. Let's read about it in verses 38-40:
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, I cannot
go with these, for I have not tested them. So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose ve smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
If you were going to fight a seasoned warrior would you choose the armor and sword or a staff and sling? For those of us who regularly try to solve our problems through logic and common sense, the armor and sword would be the preferred choice. But David was different. It’s not that he wasn’t smart; he simply trusted God. He would enter this battle with the same thing he had in the elds, the con dence that God would make him successful. Well what do you think happened next? Let’s nd out in verses 41-47:
41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your esh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the eld. 45 Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have de ed. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.
As if Goliath’s size wasn’t scary enough, he began to curse at David in the name of his gods trying to intimidate him. But David wasn’t afraid of Goliath’s size, weapons, or words. He stood in front of both armies and made it known that God was greater than any weapon, false god, or evil force. This battle was not David's, it was God's. Goliath, because of his pompousness, pride, idolatry, and de ance, was going to die the death that he deserved. Let’s see how God made David victorious. We can read the outcome in verses 48-51:
48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Reread verse 48 again. Did David stand there and wait for Goliath to get close? No, he ran towards him and initiated the attack. He was able to act because he wasn’t afraid. He didn’t just believe in God, he trusted Him with his life and knew that God would protect him. We actually see the same principle in horses.
Horses are by nature very skittish animals. They get startled easily and can be afraid of almost anything. So how do you get a horse, which is naturally afraid, to be a great racehorse or to charge into battle? Well the trainer/rider needs to work with it and build a relationship. As times goes on the horse becomes less afraid and willing to follow the lead of its owner/rider. Its fear is replaced with trust!
Before fighting Goliath, David had an experience with God. He had learned to trust and depend on the Lord. So when the situation got hard, there just simply wasn’t any room in his heart or mind for fear. David didn't see a giant, he saw God. The Philistine army, Goliath, Goliath's false gods, and the fear of defeat had no power over Him because he knew that the power of God was greater.
There are many fearful things in life. But we don't have to live a life of fear. Things like spiders, snakes, dogs, lack of money, terrorism, earthquakes, disease, and even the uncertain future are all a part of life. But they don't need to rule us or have control over us. We just need to trust that God loves us, cares for us, and will never leave us to defend ourselves. Instead of trusting in charms, amulets, and beads, trust in God!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think Can continued using nazar beads? Do you use them?
2. Which do you think is more powerful: the One who made human hands or the blue beads made by human hands?
3. Why was David so con dent that God would protect him?
4. Why do you think David only took a sling and ve stones?
5. Goliath came out for 40 days and challenged the Israelites. The things we fear in life are just like Goliath. They are constantly
bothering us and holding us down. Is there a “Goliath” in your life that scares you? Is it something that keeps you awake at night,
causes stress, or worry?
6. Do you think God can do for you what He did for David? If not, how can you learn to trust God more?