Howard Thurman writes about a "fear of man" that we all can relate too, even though he is speaking primarily to the African American audience who have felt physical oppression, segregation, and inferiority through racism. Fear is something that every person experiences even without feeling physically threatened or oppressed. Most question who they are and what they are, feeling insecure or threatened, but Thurman reminds us that in God we can gain a new sense of security and come to know who we are in Him. God personally knows everything about us and once one realize that we are a child of God it doesn't matter as much what the world is telling us. We don't have to live in fear of ourselves or of others, and we gain a new sense of worth. We finally feel we belong. We belong to God and to the Body of Christ, a colorless community found all around the world. Thurman's message might be a bit dated when speaking on racism in American, but his message about finding our identity in God will never grow old.
This chapter was especially personal for me because fear has been a governing force in much of my life. I grew up a fearful child with plenty of insecurities and only recently have I found my true, secure, identity in Christ. I have been freed from much of my fear, and I finally feel alive!
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I can definitely relate to what you're saying about being insecure. I guess my question for you would be this: what is your advice for someone who is part of the body of Christ, but still experiences fear? Is there such a thing as "good" fear? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, these were just the things that came to mind when I was reading your post.
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