When Holiness Confronts Humanity: Trust or Retreat?

What is our response when we encounter God—do we push Him away, or do we trust and obey, even when we don’t fully understand?

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When Fear Overcomes

Luke 5:8 – When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

The passage begins with Jesus preaching by the Sea of Galilee. He spots a few fishermen washing their nets and steps into Simon Peter’s boat to teach the crowd. Once finished, He turns to Peter and says, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon, weary from a long night of fishing, responds, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

To his amazement, the nets came up overflowing. In fact, the catch was so great that he had to call for help. Even with another boat, both vessels began to sink under the weight of their catch.

A miracle, no doubt. And we might think the reasonable response is gratitude.

But instead, he falls at Jesus’ feet and says, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”

Recounting another passage—Luke 8:37 – “Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and left.”

This took place right after Jesus had restored a man possessed by demons. While the man was filled with gratitude and went around his town sharing what had happened to him, all the people of the town responded differently. They were afraid. They couldn’t handle what they had just witnessed. And they asked Jesus to leave.

In both accounts—Peter and the Gerasenes—the common thread is fear. But the outcomes are drastically different.

Why Did Jesus Stay with One and Leave the Other?

Here lies a profound mystery:
When Simon Peter said, “Go away,” Jesus stayed.
But when the people of the Gerasenes said, “Go away,” Jesus left.

Why?

Because Peter’s fear was laced with reverence and openness.
The Gerasenes' fear was rooted in resistance and control.

Jesus doesn’t force Himself where He isn’t welcomed. But He stays where there is even a flicker of faith—even if it’s trembling.

Peter’s fear came from a deep awareness of holiness. He recognized his unworthiness but still obeyed. His obedience, even when unsure, mattered.

I Will Be With You

Exodus 3:11 – “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’”

Moses, too, reacted with fear and self-doubt when called by God to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. His immediate concern was his own inadequacy—“Who am I?”

But God’s answer was simple and powerful: “I will be with you.”

God didn’t affirm Moses’ identity—He affirmed His own presence.
The focus shifted from human inadequacy to divine sufficiency.

The Real Question: What Do We Do With God’s Presence?

What was common in all these situations was that—they were all focused more on one’s self rather than on God.

The closer we come to God, the more aware we become of our human frailty. 

A holy encounter often confronts us with our deepest insecurities and flaws. It’s uncomfortable. Overwhelming. At times, even terrifying.

But what we do in that moment matters:

• Do we chase God away like the Gerasenes?

• Or do we fall at His feet like Peter, confessing our sin but choosing to obey?

• Do we question our worthiness like Moses ? 

• Or do we trust the One who says, “I will be with you”?

Posture Over Perfection

God isn’t looking for perfect people—He’s looking for the willing.

Fear is a natural response to holiness. But what sets people apart in Scripture is not the absence of fear—it’s what they did with it.

• Peter obeyed.

• Moses surrendered.

• The Gerasenes resisted.

An Invitation to Reflect

When God moves in your life—when He steps into your “boat,” disrupts your routine, calls you into the unknown—how do you respond?

“Lord, when Your holiness confronts my brokenness, help me not to retreat—but to respond in obedience, awe, and surrender.”

May our hearts always be postured to say yes—even when we don’t fully understand.