Recently, I’ve been reading Dr. Martin Luther King’s book, “Strength to Love.” In one chapter, he was writing about his leadership in Montgomery nonviolent bus protests, which were fundamentally a struggle for civil rights. He and his family started to receive threats against their lives. At first, the threats were sporadic but then they began to grow and became earnest. He found himself growing in fear and doubt. Here is an excerpt from his book:
“After a particularly strenuous day, I settled in bed at a late hour. My wife had already fallen asleep, and I was about to doze off when the telephone rang. An angry voice said, ‘Listen, nigger, we’ve taken all we want from you. Before next week, you’ll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery.’ I hung up, but I could not sleep. It seemed that all my fears had come down on me at once. I had reached the saturation point.
I got out of bed and began to walk the floor. Finally, I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee. I was ready to give up. I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing to be a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had almost gone, I determined to take my problem to God. My head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud. The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory. ‘I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.’
At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never before experienced Him. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice, saying, ‘Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth. God will be at your side forever.’ Almost at once my fears began to pass from me. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything. The outer situation remained the same, but God had given me inner calm.
Three nights later, our home was bombed. Strangely enough, I accepted the word of the bombing calmly. My experience with God had given me a new strength and trust. I knew now that God is able to give us the interior resources to face the storms and problems of life.”
Dear friends, what fears are you facing this hour? Are you overwhelmed by life’s demands? Does failure or despair loom over your thoughts? I urge you to cry out to God. “Don’t be afraid. He is with you. Don’t be discouraged for He is your God. He will strengthen you and He will help you. He will hold you up, so you do not fall.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. There was no one there. (Old Proverb)
Brenda Strysko
Click on the above photo purchase book on Amazon