Fear Not
We live in truly perilous times. And some of my readers are in more peril than others.
We’re beset on all sides by a variety of painful challenges: illness, civil unrest, injury, death, separation, troubled relationships, financial catastrophe, broken dreams, weather dangers, confusion, anxiety, depression, spiritual difficulties, and more. There are pressures on us all that threaten to sink us, figuratively and literally. Some among us are, in fact, dying.
Should we despair? Have we despaired? Oh, friends, how I hope not! There are promises and there is hope; we may, if we choose, look fear in the eye and refuse it entrance.
You may have heard that there are 365 iterations of the phrase “Fear not” in the Bible, and it’s true. One for every day of the year. This ought to encourage us, because where there’s an injunction, there’s always a promise. Most of them come in the same breath – the injunction and the promise. I’m going to share a couple of them with you.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NIV).
And this one: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).
My friends, we needn’t be fearful and, in fact, shouldn’t be. Our all-powerful God is with us at all times; there’s nothing He can’t save us from and nowhere He lets us go by ourselves.
Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in three different cells in South African prisons, and later became President of that same country, said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” We do that through our trust in the Lord. He enables that faith and it grows as we experience what He does with and for and in and through us over the course of time. Facing our fears, with Him at our sides, becomes easier as we move through life, though not generally particularly pleasant.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ “
You can’t do that alone, but you don’t have to. God is with us in the flood and fire (see Isaiah 43:1-5); in illness and civil unrest; in injury, death, separation, troubled relationships, financial catastrophe, broken dreams, weather threats, confusion, anxiety, depression, spiritual difficulties, and all the rest.
That’s a promise. Three hundred and sixty-five promises, to be more precise. Claim them.
10 Comments
Beth
God has certainly been with John and I through deep waters more than once, and He did not let us drown. Blessed and oh so grateful.
Trusting Him always! 💗
ckarlstrom
He sure has been! You’re a perfect example of what God can do for His beloved when they’re in His hands!! Thanks for your comment and I’m so glad you’ve survived to this point.
Nancy Hoppe
Thank you Carolyn, God speaks to us through scripture, and that gves us courage and peace.
Carolyn Karlstrom
It does, doesn’t it?!?! What would we do without it?! Thank the Lord for providing the Scriptures for us. Thx very much for commenting!
Trudie
The mind and emotions can allow fear to greatly affect us… and the more we focus on that fear, the bigger it becomes…But praise be to God, He is greater and bigger than all our fears! The more we focus on God, the bigger He becomes !♥️🌹♥️ Your writing is very insightful and encouraging ♥️ Thank you!
Carolyn Karlstrom
Every word you said was true, Trudie! Thx for reading and for commenting in such a sweet way!!
Sherri
So very inspiring, Carolyn! It’s a wonderful thing to know about the 365 messages! I had not ever heard that before, so thanks for sharing….
Carolyn Karlstrom
So glad this is news you can make use of! And there are many other promises available to us besides these, just not couched in that term. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!! ❤️
Cheryl
365 great reminders! Thanks for reminding me ❤️
Carolyn Karlstrom
My pleasure!!! ❤️