Fear Not

Do not fear, the commandment you find so often in scripture, but the one thing that holds so many of us captive. I for one have allowed fear to control so many aspects of my life. And lately I’ve been thinking that maybe there is a reason God had to speak even to the greatest heroes of our Christian faith, those words, “Do not be afraid. Be courageous!” The reason is probably this, everyone of us deals with FEAR. But I believe God wants us to know that fear does not need to hold any of us prisoners. In fact, there is so much awaiting us, when we throw away fear and take up courage! This is the life God so desires for us, a life of courage, not one where we are shaking and hiding in the shadows.

But there are oh so many things to fear!!!

•Opinions are a huge one for me. I fear the opinions others might have of me, and this fear keeps me from doing so much.
•Potential mistakes/failure is something that keeps me from stepping out and doing/trying new things.
•The future is another huge fear factor. With a huge move coming, my boat is going to pushed out into the surf and my family won’t be docked permanently for a while. I fear the chaos that comes with that, and all the unknowns of settling down somewhere new.

And the list goes on…(and you can probably add a long list of your own).

So yes, there are many things to fear, but when we fear we are giving into the very thing that the enemy wishes for us. This is what fear does – it makes us wallow in the mistakes of yesterday. It makes us feel as if our failures are the only identity we will ever have. I ask this: Where is hope in all of our fear? Not there. And as believers, who know where our final destination will be, who know that the things of this world are just temporary, shouldn’t we, instead of being held captive by fear, be living radiant lives of hope?

It is a huge mistake to fear, for we have, on our side, a God who can do all things! I think of Peter, who desperately wanted to walk on the water with Jesus, but the moment he took his eyes off his Savior he began to sink (Matt. 14). I love that in the story of Jesus and the stormy sea, He is seen getting into the boat with His terrified disciples. It makes me confident, that He won’t leave us to face the chaos by ourselves.

Amy Charmichael puts it so beautifully:

“Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow.
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious seas.
What matter beating winds and tossing billows
If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us in the quiet through the age-long minute.
While Thou art silent and the wind is shrill;
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, are in it?
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?”

To take up courage is what we are commanded to do. And what are we to do with all our fears? Throw them on the Father who takes it under His care to protect even the sparrows. It gives our God great pleasure when we choose to trust instead of doubt. Even in the face of death, the Lord asked Jairus to not fear, but simply believe (Mark 5: 35-6). Right after Solomon is given a huge task to do, (building the temple of the Lord), His father tells him to “be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God…is with you” (1 Chr. 28:20). And even after all these years, Jesus is telling me, Sarah, to be strong and courageous and fear not! The same Jesus who came all those years ago, came so that we may have freedom from sin and death (and all the fear that goes along with that).

1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear".