Fear Not!
Christians are afraid. But we do not have to be. In fact, we should not be afraid at all. Of anything.
In God’s Word, He tells us around 35 times (depending on your choice of translation and context) to not murder. So most Christians try to avoid murdering.
In God’s Word, He tells us over 25 times (again, depending on your choice of translation and context) to tell the truth. So most Christians aim at honesty.
But somehow, when it comes God’s statements about fear, we do not seem to pay attention to what He says.
God has made it quite clear in Scripture that fear is not an option.
Yet we are afraid. We argue about what our most common fears are, without noticing that we should not be afraid at all. We fear, and explain our unique situation, claiming that WE have something to be afraid of. We confess our selfishness, our cruelty, and our social sins, but we do not seem to see that being afraid is disobedience.
The Bible does not contain 365 commands to “fear not.” I, too, wish that it did. How perfect an illustration that would be! But God does tell His people over 100 times to not be afraid, fear not, stop being afraid, avoid fear, or have courage instead of fear.
Today, many voices grab our attention and point out the reasons for fear. Social media screams, “fear.” The news lists the threats that attacked us yesterday, the dangers of the present, and the reasons to worry about tomorrow. Our conversations center around troubles and problems, and are not only spiced by fear, but fear is the main course.
And fear is understandable. Fear seems rational. Scary things ARE all around us.
When God says, “Fear not,” He is not claiming there is nothing to be afraid of.
He is saying that we know better reasons not to be afraid.
In 2020 Christians seem more afraid than pagans. We join with the world in our fears of Covid-19 and an economic crisis. And we add a fear of Government Overreach to the mix. We might fear God’s wrath. We might fear a Biblically cataclysmic end of the world.
We have so many reasons to be afraid.
And the Bible does not deny that. In fact, the Bible points out MORE reasons to be afraid. The Bible describes powerful and deadly enemies that attack, haunt, and hate God’s people. God’s enemies (the flesh, the world, and Satan) are worse than a virus, being broke, and climate change.
But if you are afraid, you can know absolutely that what you are feeling does not come from God. II Timothy 1:7 is quite clear. God does not give us a spirit of fear. Fear never comes from Him.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is somehow doing the next right thing in spite of fear. Ignoring or denying the power of a fearful thing is naïve.
God tells us to not be afraid because if we know, understand, and believe Him, we know He is bigger, more powerful, and more in control than anything we fear.
So what can we do to get rid of fear?
Listen to God. Counter the cacophony of fear-inducing noises with His calming and true voice. And His voice is most clear in the Bible.
We have just finished surveying 105 examples of God’s soothing words. He says, “fear not,” through the prophets, narrators, poets and speakers in the Bible.
Fear not!