Fear Not
“…let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified…” Deuteronomy 20:3
The title of this post reflects the theme for today’s 30-minute live broadcast on KNVBC. As I enjoyed the songs that went along with the theme, I was reminded of how the Lord has helped me so much in this area of fear. No, I certainly have not arrived…not at all!! But, I can see how the Lord has so lovingly and patiently brought me to where I am today. I can see how, compared to even as recent as a year ago, I am much quicker to give a problem to the Lord – completely!
Now, I still need gentle reminders from time to time. In fact, just a week or so ago I found myself dwelling on a situation…to the point of almost deciding I needed to set aside some time to fast and pray. (Don’t get me wrong…please don’t get me wrong. I am in no way discouraging this Biblical practice of fasting. But, in this particular situation, God had already given me peace about the matter. He had already given me specific promises from His Word.) That day, as I sat there contemplating, the Holy Spirit gently reproved me, “Rachel, Rachel, Rachel…why are you in despair about this circumstance AGAIN? Can’t you TRUST Me?”
You know what? To worry and fret about a situation in which the Lord has already, through His Word and prayer, given us peace is to DOUBT HIM. Oh my, what an insult to our Heavenly Father!
I am reminded of the twelve spies who came back with their report of Canaan. Two spies (Joshua and Caleb) came back with a good report. They wanted to go FORWARD in FAITH. The other ten spies brought back an evil report. Their discouraging words brought FEAR to the Children of Israel and the result was 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. An important thing to remember in this Biblical account is that God had ALREADY promised to give them the land. All they had to do was go in and possess it. (You can read all about it in the book of Numbers, chapters 13 & 14)
Perhaps you are troubled about a circumstance in your life. Have you, through Bible reading, prayer, and even fasting, sought the Lord about this situation? Has He given you peace? Has He given you a promise to which you can cling? Are you still clinging to that promise? Although the answer may seem to delay its coming, are you still trusting the Promise-Giver? Or, have you fallen BACK into despair? This evening, are you WANDERING around in a wilderness of DOUBT, ANXIETY, and FEAR, or are you continuing to TRUST GOD? By God’s grace, let’s not allow fear to overtake our hearts! By God’s grace, let’s go FORWARD in FAITH!
“Faith, which is trust, and fear are opposite poles. If a man has the one, he can scarcely have the other in vigorous operation. He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust.” ~ Alexander MacLaren
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6,7