To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. (Isaiah 61:3 The Message)
FEAR NOT… then MESSAGES OF JOY
Scary movies usually follow the same pattern. Bad stuff, a bit of reprieve, then worse stuff, then a bit of reprieve, then the WORST stuff… on and on. The cycle only ends at the end of the movie, with the destruction of the bad guy. And even then… the last scene will often hint that more trouble is coming, in the sequel!
Insert our fears in that cycle, and it looks like our lives. Something makes us afraid. We find reprieve, but then something else arises. We find reprieve, but then fear jumps out at us again.
Isaiah gives us a suggestion to stop the cycle.
Listen to messages of joy. Search for messages of joy. Speak messages of joy.
The world is pretty good at speaking messages of doom. Bad news sells news. Articulated worry makes us sound experienced, clever, and caring. Stating doubt gives the appearance of understanding.
But God speaks good news. He speaks gospel.
Joy is not shallow happiness. Joy is a happy contentment that arises from trusting in Jesus and His promises.
When fear repeats, break the cycle with a dose of joy.
Fear not, then messages of joy.