You Can't Legislate Your Fears Away

People are fearful. They are afraid and they want to protect themselves, and since no one can protect themselves from crazy, they want to legislate safety so they can feel better. I understand this, it's horrible to feel afraid. So, the calls ring out to legislate the fear away. We see it all the time in tighter federal restrictions. For instance, take the FDA. This past fall, 39 people died and 370 were sickened from meningitis due to negligent practices at a compounding pharmacy in Mass. 

My hubby and some of you work in the pharmaceutical industry and he and you understand how extremely tough the FDA regulations are. Yet this pharmacy was rogue. There was visible mold in the medicine from the pharmacy. Even with ALL the FDA restrictions, 39 lives were lost. We can't protect ourselves from idiocy by implementing stricter government regulations, especially when those regulations aren't followed. But, I understand why people want to. We want to be safe. We want to keep our loved ones safe. But, trust me, we can't. We can put bike helmets on our kids and ban texting while driving, but we can't stop an idiot on their phone while driving from hitting our biking kids. We can put drunk driving laws into effect, but we can't stop an idiot from getting hammered and getting behind the wheel. Government regulations can only go so far and they never protect from crazy or idiocy. 

Our world is not safe, because we are mortal. That is the plain fact. I am not safe. You are not safe. We are not safe. But we can be comforted and comfort others by resting our fears in God. He can offer us peace in a warlike world. He can be our rock and our salvation. He can give us eternal hope. I myself have suffered years from panic attacks, and God helps me. He gives me quiet and security so that I can face each day without fear. In my Bible (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)..."For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5-6