Do Not Fear
October 10, 2021 — Laura House
Many who lose someone close to them experience an increase in fear. It seems to be a normal part of grief for some, but that wasn’t really part of my grief. In fact, I had less fear. Feeling that the worst thing that could ever happen had already happened, I didn’t see any reason to fear. While I had been fearful for my family before and struggled to put their well-being in the Lord’s hands, I didn’t struggle with that anymore. There were a host of other ways I struggled in my grief, but fear just wasn’t one of them.
Assessing what had happened with losing Nathan, I couldn’t fathom ever being afraid of anything again. My lack of fear even surprised me sometimes. At the time that Nathan left us, Gary and I were living in Oklahoma. I remember once when a tornado was supposedly approaching, instead of sheltering under the stairs like we would’ve previously done, we went out to the cul-de-sac to see if we could spot it coming. No fear.
Then 2020 happened. Now I don’t need to mention all that this last year has brought...you’ve been living on earth too. How should we respond to the dismay and grief we feel about the state of the Church, the country, and all that is happening in the world? Fear is not the answer. Yet if I’m honest, I’ll confess that I’ve had anxiety these past few months, and recognize when it crossed over to fear.
Just to be clear, I’m not referring to the healthy fear of poisonous snakes, scorpions, or dangerous situations. There are certainly times that fear becomes a useful and protective instinct. Nor am I referring to the one type of fear that the Bible instructs us to exhibit, which is “fearing” the Lord, meaning to show reverence.
The fear I’ve experienced is not from the Lord, and I’ve come to believe that it’s the opposite of trusting Him. You see, of the more than five hundred times that the Bible discusses fear, the instructions to us over and over are to NOT fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Take a few moments to examine the following promises of God to the children of Israel, which are applicable for all of us today as well. Notice “why” we don’t need to fear.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Isaiah 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
So where do I go from here? Are you struggling with fear as I have? Let’s call upon the Lord. As the writer of Lamentations proclaimed, “You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!’” And let us say as the Psalmist did, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
Only when we seek the Lord and trust Him, will we avoid the pit of fear. That is where our strength comes from. Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 14: 27 have become one of my favorite passages, giving me hope, peace, and courage. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
As you look to the Word for strength to overcome any fear you are experiencing, consider the Psalms. David was relentlessly pursued by those who determined to end his life, yet he knew that he belonged to God — the sovereign, all-powerful God, who created him and loved him. These are some of the most beautifully comforting verses to memorize and bring forth when you encounter fear and choose to trust the Lord in the midst of it.
Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Let’s trust Him together and experience His peace in the midst of the chaos—His joy even in times of grief—His promise to be with us every moment and to prepare a place for us “that where I am you may also be.”
