Isaiah 41:10,13 NKJV
[10] Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [13] For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Good Morning!
What is fear? It is just an emotional response to what we believe might happen that could cause pain or be a threat to us.
This life is full of unknowns and as mere humans it is only natural to have a great fear of the unknown. But when we believe that God is still with us even in times of uncertainty, we have the comfort of knowing that our lives have certainty and He is holding our hand through it all.
It is very easy to have the herd mentality when the media and everyone around us is speaking loudly of doom and gloom. But as Christians, we know that God does not give us a spirit of fear. He gives us the power of love and a sound mind! That is comforting and when we embrace His word and stand on His promises, we can overcome the fears of uncertainty knowing that He is in control and He will bring us through this time, as He has so many times throughout history.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
[7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
As God’s children and heirs to His throne, God has given us all of His promises so that we can walk through this life in strength, without fear and with the hope of the resurrection. God did not say that we would never have challenges. In fact Jesus told us that we would face many challenges (tribulations) in this life, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Paul later tells us that we will be hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, but never destroyed. There may be things on earth that can destroy our body, but nothing on earth that can destroy our soul. So the only real fear any of us should have is the fear of living eternally separated from God in the afterlife.
John 16:33 NKJV
[33] These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV
[8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Matthew 10:28 NKJV
[28] And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
There is great comfort in the Word of God and knowing that even in these fearful times, God is sovereign and His plans and purposes for our lives and the whole earth will be fulfilled. We don’t always understand why God allows things to happen as God’s ways are so much higher than our ways. So let’s not try to understand it, but to embrace what each day has for us and be thankful of what we have today. Jesus told us in The Lord’s Prayer to thank God for our daily bread and also told us not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough of its own troubles. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble!
Nehemiah 9:6 NIV
[6] You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
[8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Matthew 6:11 NIV
[11] Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:34 NIV
[34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Psalm 46:1 NIV
[1] God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Let us all look at each day as an opportunity to be a blessing with the love of God to those around us that are living in fear and to share the strength that we have through His word.
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad