An Invitation
By Ryan Dawson
I was struck by some lyrics I heard this week from a song called “Kingdom of Fear.” The song describes someone who is hurting deeply but has learned to hide it. They are building walls, biting their tongue, and pretending everything is fine, because they are afraid to let someone get close enough to see what is really happening underneath the surface. Maybe you have heard the song, and you have found yourself humming along, because it’s a catchy tune. One line especially caught my attention: “Just another day in the kingdom of fear.”
I wonder if that phrase describes more of our world than we would like to admit. Fear seems to be everywhere these days. We fear what is happening in the world, we fear for our families, and we fear what the future might hold. Sometimes fear becomes so deeply rooted in us that we don't even recognize how much it is shaping the way we live. It can cause us to build walls, hide our pain, pretend we're okay and carry burdens that were never meant to be carried alone. It’s sad but true that even in the Church, we can feel the need to pretend we are doing well when we are overwhelmed with life.
But as I thought about those lyrics, I was reminded that Jesus came announcing a radically different kingdom. Jesus didn't come simply to teach us how to manage our fears. He came to bring us into the Kingdom of God—a kingdom where we are deeply loved, fully known, completely forgiven and never alone.
The Apostle John tells us, “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all” (1 John 1:5), and Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT).
What a beautiful invitation: Jesus is inviting us to come out of the darkness and into the light of His presence. And Jesus doesn't ask us to pretend everything is okay before we come to Him. He already knows what is going on in our hearts and in our lives. Jesus sees our fears, our hurts, our disappointments, our shame and the questions we sometimes struggle to put into words, and He still says, “Come.” We don't have to hide behind carefully constructed walls because God’s grace is greater than our weakness, and we don't have to carry everything alone because Jesus promises to be with us. God also blesses us with His Body, the Church, so we can be encouraged and equipped for the journey ahead.
This doesn't mean followers of Jesus never feel afraid. We can all feel afraid at times. I know I do. But faith doesn't mean the absence of fear; it means that fear no longer gets the final word. Fear doesn’t define our lives, because Jesus does. So, when fear tells us we're alone, Jesus reminds us that He is with us. When fear tells us to hide, Jesus tells us we are fully known and fully loved. When fear tells us there is no hope, Jesus reminds us that He brings things back to life.
The world can sometimes feel like a kingdom of fear, but that is not the kingdom Jesus invites us to live in. Jesus welcomes us into His Kingdom of light and love and we enter by faith.
Maybe you need to hear this invitation from Jesus again… “Come into the Light.” It’s an invitation to stop pretending and hiding. You don't have to carry life all by yourself, because God is with you and He has given you brothers and sisters in the Church who love you. Jesus is inviting you to bring your whole self into His presence and to surrender to His loving leadership, as you live in community. This means you can surrender your fear, your wounds, and your secrets to your loving and gracious God, and to trusted followers of Christ. Because Jesus already knows all this about you. And He loves you with an everlasting love!
There are many kingdoms competing for our hearts today, but Jesus is inviting us home into His Kingdom of Light and Love…and there is no place like home!
Grace & Peace, Ryan
I was struck by some lyrics I heard this week from a song called “Kingdom of Fear.” The song describes someone who is hurting deeply but has learned to hide it. They are building walls, biting their tongue, and pretending everything is fine, because they are afraid to let someone get close enough to see what is really happening underneath the surface. Maybe you have heard the song, and you have found yourself humming along, because it’s a catchy tune. One line especially caught my attention: “Just another day in the kingdom of fear.”
I wonder if that phrase describes more of our world than we would like to admit. Fear seems to be everywhere these days. We fear what is happening in the world, we fear for our families, and we fear what the future might hold. Sometimes fear becomes so deeply rooted in us that we don't even recognize how much it is shaping the way we live. It can cause us to build walls, hide our pain, pretend we're okay and carry burdens that were never meant to be carried alone. It’s sad but true that even in the Church, we can feel the need to pretend we are doing well when we are overwhelmed with life.
But as I thought about those lyrics, I was reminded that Jesus came announcing a radically different kingdom. Jesus didn't come simply to teach us how to manage our fears. He came to bring us into the Kingdom of God—a kingdom where we are deeply loved, fully known, completely forgiven and never alone.
The Apostle John tells us, “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all” (1 John 1:5), and Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT).
What a beautiful invitation: Jesus is inviting us to come out of the darkness and into the light of His presence. And Jesus doesn't ask us to pretend everything is okay before we come to Him. He already knows what is going on in our hearts and in our lives. Jesus sees our fears, our hurts, our disappointments, our shame and the questions we sometimes struggle to put into words, and He still says, “Come.” We don't have to hide behind carefully constructed walls because God’s grace is greater than our weakness, and we don't have to carry everything alone because Jesus promises to be with us. God also blesses us with His Body, the Church, so we can be encouraged and equipped for the journey ahead.
This doesn't mean followers of Jesus never feel afraid. We can all feel afraid at times. I know I do. But faith doesn't mean the absence of fear; it means that fear no longer gets the final word. Fear doesn’t define our lives, because Jesus does. So, when fear tells us we're alone, Jesus reminds us that He is with us. When fear tells us to hide, Jesus tells us we are fully known and fully loved. When fear tells us there is no hope, Jesus reminds us that He brings things back to life.
The world can sometimes feel like a kingdom of fear, but that is not the kingdom Jesus invites us to live in. Jesus welcomes us into His Kingdom of light and love and we enter by faith.
Maybe you need to hear this invitation from Jesus again… “Come into the Light.” It’s an invitation to stop pretending and hiding. You don't have to carry life all by yourself, because God is with you and He has given you brothers and sisters in the Church who love you. Jesus is inviting you to bring your whole self into His presence and to surrender to His loving leadership, as you live in community. This means you can surrender your fear, your wounds, and your secrets to your loving and gracious God, and to trusted followers of Christ. Because Jesus already knows all this about you. And He loves you with an everlasting love!
There are many kingdoms competing for our hearts today, but Jesus is inviting us home into His Kingdom of Light and Love…and there is no place like home!
Grace & Peace, Ryan