In his book, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Thomas Brooks shares how Satan begins his work:
“Satan’s first device to draw the soul into sin is, to present the bait—and hide the hook; to present the golden cup—and hide the poison; to present the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin—and to hide from the soul the wrath and misery that will certainly follow the committing of sin.”
It is an ancient trap we’ve been dodging since the beginning of time: hidden snares. Just three chapters into the Bible the serpent lures Eve, inviting her to taste and see. Convincing the woman that she could gain something greater than all God has already given, the snake lays a trap. She listens. She sees. She desires. She takes the bait, partakes of the fruit, and offers it to Adam. As she does, her gaze turns not toward God but inward toward herself.
When was the last time you found yourself caught, tangled up, victim to Satan’s snare?
In my own life, a trap I’ve fallen prey to is the fear of man. I’ve wanted to know I belong, so I’d look to particular people to determine whether I do. Sometimes I find myself considering the opinions of others—what they might think, how they’ll react—and I’ll make my decisions accordingly. I wrestle with wondering if anything I have to offer is significant. It is one of the sneakiest traps I fall into. Like Eve, I listen to the wrong voice. I take my eyes off the glories, the goodness, and the gifts of God. I forget who my Father is and I become entangled.
How it Begins
Satan takes great time and care to lay his traps. He knows the patterns of the human heart and positions the trap so it remains undetected. He’ll cover the fear of man with things so familiar that one wouldn’t even realize that they’ve fallen prey. At times it might be woven into intimate relationships, like that of a spouse or close friend. Sometimes, it’s wrapped up with one who is esteemed highly in the community. One even might be overcome by it when beginning to pray out loud in front of a handful of people. It sometimes lures us as something more abstract such as social media or influence.
It begins subtly. You give yourself over to the opinions and expectations of another. You second guess who God says you are. Worried about how you’re seen or understood, feelings of unworthiness set in. Will you be rejected? Accepted? Are you loved? Needed? Do you belong? You fear criticism. You fear humiliation. You fear rejection. One thing is sure: your gaze has fallen away from your Creator. The fear of man has you in its trap.
“The fear of man lays a snare…” Proverbs 29:25
When we take the bait, we slowly give ourselves over to the enemy’s plans to keep our eyes off the Father, and we focus on our circumstances, relationships, and ourselves. With our energy (our time and affection) centered here, we’ll walk away from the freedom found in walking in the Spirit. We stumble into anxiety, insecurity, depression, paralysis, isolation. We find ourselves in bondage—bondage that can look like:
I feel the need to perform in order to please another.
I worry that I don’t measure up.
I pine for the company of others and feel rejected if I don’t get it.
I desperately need to be accepted in my community.
I look to social (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) to find my value and worth.
I compromise my convictions in order to belong.
I am overly anxious about what others think about any given topic.
I feel that my identity is shaken when others are displeased.
I allow others’ dispositions to direct my moods.
I am afraid to share my opinion because of the judgments or reactions of others.
I walk on eggshells around particular people.
I need to be known by someone special.
I feel the need to embellish the truth so that I fit in.
I find security in what I do for others.
I am constantly concerned about how others view me.
I don’t want to include others because it might take the spotlight off me.
I find myself ashamed and worthless because of someone else’s issues.
I can’t function in my day-to-day without wondering how another might be affected.
I will spend more time, money, and energy for the approval of another.
The fear of man isn’t simply a sickness that someone wakes up with one day, but a slow process of turning away from our Father. Day by day, interaction by interaction, we begin to trust the people around us more than the One who created us, who has purchased us. Slowly, we begin to believe a distorted definition of what is good and right and true. We turn our eyes away from Jesus and to the people he placed around us, looking to them to fulfill our desires and needs.
The fear of man manifests in our lives when we find the actions, opinions, standards, and affirmations of another person more attractive than what God says about who we are. It will eventually crush us. When we look for the acceptance, admiration, and affection of another, we will find it lacking every time. If the desires we long for most can only be found in the people around us, we’ll be dissatisfied and disappointed.
Maybe you find yourself having checked off a number of the things from the list above. If so, you might be wondering how you can move away from the snare of the fear of man. Here’s a place to start.
Find Jesus
Find him in his word. Find him as Sustainer, Healer, Redeemer. Find him merciful and gracious. Find him slow to anger, patient, steadfast. Find him already pleased, requiring nothing from you because he was faithful to fulfill the righteous requirement for you. Find Jesus: lived, died, raised again. Find him high and lifted up, seated on his throne. Find him just, righteous, true. Find him glorious and beautiful and holy. Find him and be in awe. Find him more fulfilling than any other thing.
Pray
Pray. Pray that the Holy Spirit would stir your affections for him. Pray that the Spirit would prompt you to turn to him when you’re seeking something from man. Pray for the Spirit to protect you from wanting man to fulfill what only God can. Pray for the Spirit to increase your trust in what Christ has already fulfilled for you.
Turn to Him
Keep turning toward him. Find people to help hold you accountable. Find people who will point you back to him. “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV
“…but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Proverbs 29:25
God, in his compassion, provides a better way, a rescue from this danger we find ourselves in. This rescue is both the simplest and the most challenging invitation to receive. To trust the Lord means to place our hopes, desires, and perceived needs at his feet and believe that he knows how to lead, guide, provide for, and love us.
His invitation? “Trust me (Proverbs 3:5). Listen for me (John 10). Look to me (Psalm 105:3-4). Stay with me (John 15:4). Keep your eyes on me (Isaiah 26:3).”
This is no easy task. We live in a culture that competes for our attention and affection. It places a high priority on experience, acceptance, and achievement. Trusting, listening, looking, and abiding is not for the weak. But when we look to Christ—to what Christ has done on our behalf—we’ll find that nothing compares. He has already accepted us and he has already achieved for us. We need not seek from man. We can trust this finished work, and find safety and freedom there. Here’s what freedom looks like:
Jesus performed the greatest work in order to please his Father. (Mark 10:45)
Jesus measures up completely, so I don’t have to. (Hebrews 1:2-4)
Jesus holds his arms open to me and is my greatest friend. (Matthew 11:19)
Jesus redeemed me so that I would be accepted and received by my Father. (Galatians 3:13-15)
Jesus defines my value and worth. (Galatians 2:20)
Jesus sacrificed his life so that I would belong. (Romans 14:8)
Jesus invites me to rest in the truth of his word. (John 6:63-69)
Jesus gives me my identity and is pleased when I walk in it. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus’ disposition toward me is always gentle and lowly. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus received the greatest judgment for the penalty of my sins. (Romans 6:23)
Jesus allows me to be bold and honest when I come to him. (Ephesians 3:12)
Jesus knows me. Completely. Fully. I am known. (John 10:14-15)
Jesus is the truth. The greatest truth that cannot be embellished. (John 14:6)
Jesus is my assurance, my security. (Romans 8:1)
Jesus sees me reconciled and redeemed, a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus is the spotlight. Jesus includes others…he includes me. (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus took my shame on the Cross and made me worthy. (Isaiah 53:3-5)
Jesus is the way, the truth, the light. When I follow him, everything falls into its proper place. (John 14:6)
Jesus approves of me. I need not work for his approval. He already did. (2 Corinthians 5:16–21)
The fullness we are looking for—the safety and security and freedom we want—is found in the person and work of Jesus. It is found when we take our full and honest hearts to the Lord. If we look to man to give us what only the Father can, we’ll only find danger and despair. But when we trust in the Lord—for security, significance, or anything else—we will be safe from the snares of the enemy.