“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Prov 28:1)

This verse is a perfect description of life today! Though we have more wealth than any other time in history, better-than-ever healthcare, and surprisingly low rates of violence, anxiety still dominates our landscape. Fear is epidemic. We fear cancer. We fear violence. We fear the Democrats, or Republicans. We fear missing out (FOMO). We fear unknown threats that lurk in the dark and keep us awake at night.

In the verse quoted above, “the wicked man” does not mean what we usually associate as wicked. This refers more to the person who is not following God. Likewise, “the righteous” is not referring to someone perfect in their walk with God, but the person who is striving to trust God with the direction of their life. What is interesting as I read this verse is that the wicked flee though they have no reason to be afraid. They are running away from nothing. They just live their life ruled by fear. 

I have to admit that fear is hard for me to cast off. Even though I don’t consider myself a worrier, I easily fall into a habit of anxiousness. I listen to the wrong voices.

It doesn’t take long listening to the voice of the world to feel our anxiety rise. The news is designed to make us afraid. Whole industries depend on keeping us perpetually on edge. Though we do everything in our power to control all of the risks threatening us, we sense that we are fighting a losing battle. It seems an impossible task to be at peace. 

Only God’s voice whispers, “Be not afraid.” In his book, If You Want to Walk on Water You have to Get Out of the Boat, John Ortberg notes that “Fear not” is the most often repeated command in the Bible, as if God knows trust does not come naturally. Ortberg also observes that only one out of the twelve disciples took the chance and walked on water to Jesus. Apparently, boldness is even hard for the righteous.

We can be honest and admit that we struggle with fear without arriving at the conclusion that fear is unavoidable. The key is deciding whose voice we will grant our attention. We move toward freedom from fear as we learn to magnify God’s voice over the other voices which seek to divert our devotion and exacerbate our angst. This requires consciously turning down the other voices and turning up the volume on God’s voice. Two key questions help us discern which voice is winning the battle for our attention. Whose voice is the first voice you listen to each day? Remember, that which is first in our life is foremost in our life. Whose voice is loudest in your life? This question addresses both quantity and volume.

When I am immersed in God’s Word, and when I spend time with others who trust God, I am strengthened to trust God more in my own circumstances. When I forget to take time with God and instead occupy my time with the messages of the media or the toxic voices within, I feel my angst skyrocket – “even though no one pursues.” 

The stakes are high! And so, the question to ponder is “Whose voice wins the battle for your attention?”