ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

forgotten about Jesus’ recent miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish - as theWord says, “They had not gained any insight from the incident” (Mark 6:52). They also failed to learn from a previous incident months before when a storm threatened them on the lake.This time Jesus was with them in the boat, asleep in fact, when the weather turned bad. Just when they were about to sink, Jesus awoke and stilled the storm, saying, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Could not the One who had already performed multiple mir- acles also calm the sea? Candidly speaking, I’ve been right there withTimothy, Abraham, and the disciples on many occasions.When trouble arises, I’m prone to jump in and fix it. Spiritual amnesia sets in and I often forget the numerous times God has guided and provided. I’ve bolted for “Egypt” rather than allowing God to work through the situation and strengthen my faith. Note also that fear restrains our progress. Due to misplaced fear,Timothy was not using the gifts given to him by God to their full potential, an issue Jesus addressed in His parable of the talents (Matthew 25:1-14). In this story, one person turned five talents into ten and another two talents into four. Sadly, a third person who re- ceived one talent, failed to exercise the same ingenuity, explaining to his master, “I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). As a result, the fearful servant had his talent taken away and given to the one who already had ten, and then he was thrown into “Outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).Although the punishment may seem harsh, it demonstrates how seriously God takes our utilizing the gifts He has given us. This brings to mind a glaring example of fear stifling prog- ress in Scripture. Reaching the edge of their destination, Moses sent 12 spies to assess the Promised Land.Although Joshua and Caleb

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