Fear Not
Judi Wheat, Preschool (KidzPark) Curriculum Coordinator
One of the most disturbing observations that I have witnessed during this COVID-19 Pandemic is FEAR. You look into the eyes of individuals and you see anxiety, apprehension, and overwhelming fear. People are afraid to leave their homes, go to church, or seek out friends. Fear paralyzes. It overwhelms. It can cause panic. We are not to be a people filled with fear. We are to be people of faith, with complete trust in Jesus our Savior.
In the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, we are reminded by God and Jesus at least 365 times to “Fear not,” “Do not fear,” and “Do not be afraid.” That is a daily dose from our Heavenly Father, telling us NOT TO FEAR. Of course, these commands from our Heavenly Father do not contradict the command to “fear God” (1 Peter 2:17). And the biblical command “do not fear” does not negate the need for prudence and caution in our everyday encounters.
God has been showing me, as Max Lucado so aptly stated in his book "Fearless", “When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life.” And, as we know, the Christian walk with Jesus is risk-filled, not risk-free.
In the devotional book, "Radical Wisdom" by Regi Campbell I found “a few key points about fear...
Therefore, as we continue our journey with Jesus, we need to keep in mind a few statements that David Platt made on pages 122 and 123 of his book "Radical":
Patrick Fore on Unsplash
“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.” (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV)
One of the most disturbing observations that I have witnessed during this COVID-19 Pandemic is FEAR. You look into the eyes of individuals and you see anxiety, apprehension, and overwhelming fear. People are afraid to leave their homes, go to church, or seek out friends. Fear paralyzes. It overwhelms. It can cause panic. We are not to be a people filled with fear. We are to be people of faith, with complete trust in Jesus our Savior.
In the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, we are reminded by God and Jesus at least 365 times to “Fear not,” “Do not fear,” and “Do not be afraid.” That is a daily dose from our Heavenly Father, telling us NOT TO FEAR. Of course, these commands from our Heavenly Father do not contradict the command to “fear God” (1 Peter 2:17). And the biblical command “do not fear” does not negate the need for prudence and caution in our everyday encounters.
God has been showing me, as Max Lucado so aptly stated in his book "Fearless", “When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life.” And, as we know, the Christian walk with Jesus is risk-filled, not risk-free.
In the devotional book, "Radical Wisdom" by Regi Campbell I found “a few key points about fear...
“To overcome our fear, we must assess our capacity, entrust everything we have to Him, let Jesus shape us through life’s challenges, and live in community with Him and with like-hearted people who trust and follow Him.”
- “Fear is selfishness: It makes us think of ourselves, whereas love makes us think of others.
- “Fear about self-protection: Fear keeps us hiding and keeps us from being fully known by others. But love makes us vulnerable and more apt to be known, loved, and helped.
- “Fear keeps us from trusting God: We have ideas about what God should do and we’re afraid He won’t deliver. Grasping how much God loves us drives out fear and gives us peace and confidence.
Therefore, as we continue our journey with Jesus, we need to keep in mind a few statements that David Platt made on pages 122 and 123 of his book "Radical":
“In God we have a Shepherd who protects us from fear as if we’re a little flock. In God we have a Father who delights in us as children, a Father who is determined to give good gifts to us. And in God we have a King who guarantees a kingdom for us … Your God—your Shepherd, your Father, your King—has everything under control.”
And, lastly, as stated in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT), “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but power, love, and self-discipline.”