The transformation of Luke Skywalker from a whining worrier to a mighty warrior is one of the better story arcs in the Star Wars universe.
We first meet Luke as he is helping his uncle purchase droids from the Jawas.
After the purchase of C3P0 and the Red R5 droid, his uncle asks that Luke clean up the droids before dinner.
That seems like a simple request but the 19-year-old Luke whines, “But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters.”
In just about four years, Luke goes from whining about cleaning droids to becoming a Jedi who was able to defeat Darth Vader in combat.
He then was able to quickly gain control over his emotions so that he could make a stand against the Emperor.
How was he able to change so much in four years?
He sought counsel and trained.
He began his training under Obi-Wan and continued to practice the little that he was taught before Obi-Wan’s death.
He was told be Obi-Wan’s Force ghost to search for Yoda in Empire Strikes Back.
Even though he whined during his training under Yoda, he learned and applied what he was taught.
He even returned Dagobah to finish his training, just as he promised Yoda he would.
Seeking Counsel
We need to stop whining and start seeking counsel.
The best source of counsel is the Word of God, Scripture.
The Bible is full of verses on how we should not fear.
At its base level, fear is nothing more than a lack of trust in God.
God is sovereign.
Nothing catches God by surprise. Therefore we can trust that what we are going through, He knows about.
While not everything we experience is good, God makes everything work out for our good in the end. (Romans 8:28).
So seeking wisdom about how to handle fear, leads us to the knowledge that we need to increase our trust in God.
How do we do that?
Simple. We start by remembering that as a believer in Christ Jesus, we have already trusted God with our eternal souls.
If we can trust Him with that, why do we have a problem with trusting Him on smaller, temporal things?
Start Training
We can move from whining worrier to a mighty warrior by taking baby steps.
Just like Luke started learning the use his lightsaber against the remote aboard the Millenium Falcon, we need to practice using our sword, Scripture.
We need to train ourselves to be readers AND doers of the Word (James 1:22).
Train yourself to read Scripture each day. Not with the, “I’ll go to hell if I don’t” motive, but in the “I want to draw closer to God” motive.
When we do this, we will become like the believer the Apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 6.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.~ Ephesians 6:11-18a (ESV)
The more we train with Scripture, the more it will seep into our hearts and minds.
When we have stored Scripture in our hearts, we will become the warrior that can stand up and be unafraid (Psalms 119:11).
