Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of the Lord to conceal things.
I believe the truths of God to be simple yet profoundly deep and below the surface. The “truths” of this world are more up front, easier to see, don’t require much effort in searching out. As we often say, “Whatever something costs you, that’s exactly what it is worth to you.”
Yoda wisely told Luke that the dark side is not stronger, but “easier, quicker, more seductive.” This is a good description of the world and its “answers” to life’s troubles.
When discouraged, getting plastered is easier, quicker, & more seductive. When frustrated it is easier, quicker, and more seductive to turn to porn and/or give your body a release to temporarily feel better. It is more effort, but worth it, to turn your heart to God in those hard moments and experience the reward of His presence, His peace that He promises & offers whenever we really go to Him from a sincere heart. A little extra effort and search will always prove worth the work.
The most common reason we do not return to joy from these tough moments is that we are not accustomed to stop and seek Immanuel-Shalom when we are upset, discouraged, or frustrated. We have not trained our brains to do this. We have formed the life-robbing habit of taking the easier, quicker, more seductive path that keeps us in the cycle of frustration and dissonance.
Luke 12:4-5
Fear no person, only fear God, for He is the only one who really even has the power to do you any true harm-harm to your soul.
Jesus does not guarantee that he will protect one’s physical life; this is not prosperity theology. God may require martyrdom of his disciples. The premise of this remark is that God has sovereign care of life after earthly life. Without such a view of care and justice, Jesus’ remarks make no sense.
-Darrell Bock
In the Bible the word fear means more than fright; it’s any kind of awe and reverence that causes us to subject ourselves to something or someone else. Biblical counselor Ed Welch explains:
“Fear” in the biblical sense…includes being afraid of someone, but it extends to holding someone in awe, being controlled or mastered by people, worshipping other people, putting your trust in people, or needing people. However you put it,…the fear of man can be summarized this way: We replace God with people. Instead of a biblically guided fear of the Lord, we fear others.
-From What Are You Afraid Of? by David Jeremiah