Issue 1549 – Fear Not – September 13, 2024
What are you afraid of? Whether we admit it or not, we are fearful of something.
Years ago, I used to skydive, which was great, but I was terrified of flying. Jumping out of a plane seemed fine, but flying in one scared me. I know that is not logical, but fear is not rational. It is an emotional or spiritual response.
Often, we are afraid of failing, being exposed for who we “really” are, or what’s going to happen tomorrow. We worry about our jobs and our kids. The fact is that this world can be a very frightening place.
Our fears and insecurities often surface when we are called to serve the Lord. This happened to Moses in the desert.
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Exodus 3:7-9
God Himself had heard their prayers and would do something about it. Moses must have been thrilled, but then came the clincher.
Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:10-11
God’s plan was to send Moses. Moses reacted as many of us would, with a “Who me? I can’t do that” kind of fearful response. When the call goes out for missionaries to serve on the board of trustees or to fill whatever role, we instinctively go into fear and excuse mode.
We not only seem to lack faith in ourselves, we lack faith in God to provide what we need to do the job.
God doesn’t promise the believer a trial-free life, but He does promise to bring us through it. One of the Bible verses that got me through the years of litigation over the accidents that caused my brain injury was
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:1-2
When you face fear, be it the fear of everyday life or the fear of responding to God’s call on your life, trust Him to carry you through.
Although I confess I haven’t counted them myself, I’m told that the phrase “Fear not” or its equivalents appear 365 times in the Bible. Even if the exact count is out, that makes the theme of trusting in God and walking without fear a pervasive concept in the Bible. When something appears that many times, we need to pay attention to what God is saying.
What is He saying? I suggest that God tells us not to be afraid because He is with us. I find a lot of comfort in that.
Until next time, may you learn to trust Him and His plan for your life. When He calls you to serve, may you overcome the fear and say yes, Lord.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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