The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. – Psalm 111.10
Fear. Wonder. Awe. When I was preparing to be confirmed, we were encouraged to learn the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. For those unfamiliar with them, they are found in the 11th chapter of Isaiah and are gifts bestowed on the branch from the stump of Jesse, Jesus, the prophesied messiah. As Christians, who are joined to Christ in baptism, we share in these sevenfold gifts from on high. The seven gifts are traditionally listed as wisdom, understanding, knowledge, strength, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts are given to reveal Christ and empower those who believe to follow him.
Of the seven, I feel the most misunderstood is “fear of the Lord.” We associate “fear” with scary. We are fearful of many things, loss, loneliness, illness, poverty, and death. We may ask ourselves, “Why would God, who is our only source of hope, healing, and salvation, be something to be feared?” “If God is love, and loves us unconditionally, perfecting our conditional and limited love, why should I be afraid?” St. Paul reminds us in Romans, “For you didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that Spirit bearing witness that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:15-16). How can we be afraid of the God who is “for us?” (Romans 8:31)
I was taught to consider fear in terms of “wonder” and “awe.” These better capture “fear of the Lord.” “Great are the works the Lord, studied by all who delight in them,” writes the Psalmist. Our eyes, opened by this gift, enable us to see God’s magnificent and continuous work of love in the world. Awe of God’s good creation, such as the Desert National Wildlife Refuge or Red Rock Canyon, stirs us to praise the One who made us. Wonder grows in us as holy curiosity leads us to ponder deep in our hearts, the mysteries of God’s Word and what God is doing in our lives and the lives of those God loves. Wonder and awe of the Lord lay the foundation for a heart and mind to be focused on higher, greater things and thus lead us to God’s will. By this gift, God’s people are transformed to daily recognize that we are “not God” and to receive that as good news. Only God can be God; we can only be God’s beloved creation. From this place, wisdom grows, knowledge deepens, and understanding develops. We are strengthened and consoled as we wrestle through the difficulties of this life. A spirit-filled hymn sings in our ears, “we’ve come this far by faith, trusting in your holy Word, he’s never failed us yet.” In fear, wonder, and awe, we behold the one who makes all things new.
Accounting for God 