We just came out of the season when \u201cno fear\u201d is a hot topic. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds were told: \u201cNo fear!” Most every day I talk to or hear about someone who is afraid or anxious. The trust is we have plenty to be concerned and worried about. Of course, we long to \u201cfear not\u201d. We want more of God\u2019s peace in the midst of stress, danger, and uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I haven\u2019t counted for myself, but I\u2019ve heard it said, \u201cFear not,\u201d (in some form) is in the Bible 365 times. Each time it\u2019s spoken of, we are urged \u201cnot to be afraid.\u201d This is my third day in a row to speak of the beloved disciple, John. He emphasizes \u201cFear not\u201d here: \u201cDear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love\u201d (1 John 4:11, 18). I would suggest that he\u2019s telling us that if we love God more \u2013 with all our heart, mind, and soul \u2013 fear may be uncommon in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there\u2019s David\u2019s example in his Psalm 56. Seized by the Philistines, he starts to become afraid, but instead he sets his vision on his Lord and Savior: \u201cWhen I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise. In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m speaking from my own experiences right now. I\u2019m making some pretty big, life-altering decisions that give me those rumbling, worry-feelings in my tummy. I don\u2019t speak it out loud, but there are times when I\u2019m \u201coverwhelmed\u201d. Those times when I want to find someone to help me hold it all together. Someone to take over. But I know better. I\u2019ve come well acquainted with the father of lies, Satan. He slithers around in a pile of sneaky lies in the shadows of my thoughts, hissing and making me feel small, helpless, and alone. But, I\u2019ve come to recognize his ways. And, I remember that main \u201cfear not\u201d theme for each day of the year. I often need a \u201cfear not\u201d for each minute of the day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then that still, refreshing, tender and loving small voice I hear: \u201cPause, Donna. Seek Me! I will never leave you or forsake you.\u201d Just like the many times in scripture when the Lord said \u201cFear not\u201d in those pivotal times when His people paused to ask for direction and courage. They took on big risks, faced their giants, and traveled into unchartered territory where enemies abounded. Yet, they consistently pressed on because the Lord always said \u201cFear not, I am with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I\u2019ve come to terms with fear, I realize it\u2019s not something to be ashamed of. Rather I think it\u2019s a healthy emotion created by God. When we are afraid, we slow down and pay attention \u2013 AND we nestle in closer to Him. Like our own children when they\u2019re afraid and they come running to us: \u201cThere, there, everything\u2019s gonna\u2019 be alright,\u201d we say to them as we draw them in closer and tighter to us. Sometimes concern, worry and fear are good things for us. It\u2019s a sure sign we need to nuzzle into our Father Who brings us in tight and assures us \u201cEverything\u2019s gonna\u2019 be alright!\u201d It\u2019s a good thing \u2013 a cause for pause \u2013 and humbling our hearts to know and seek Him and His will for our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you have some of those tummy-rumbling feelings right now, along with concerns and worry! Pray with David: \u201cWhen I am afraid, I will trust in you!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We just came out of the season when \u201cno fear\u201d is a hot topic. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds were told: \u201cNo fear!” Most every day I talk to or hear about someone who is afraid or anxious. The trust is we have plenty to be concerned and worried about. Of course, we long to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15825,19591,19593,19592],"tags":[19588,12897,916,1210,1769,16805,6202,9955,7858,19589,14916,40,98,5121,8067,14910,9747,12414,545,2967,19590],"class_list":["post-13722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-do-not-be-afraid","category-fear-not","category-overwhelmed","category-uncertainty","tag-365-days-a-year","tag-afraid","tag-anxious","tag-blog","tag-christian","tag-danger","tag-everythings-gonna-be-alright","tag-father-of-lies","tag-fear-not","tag-hot-topic","tag-i-will-trust-in-you","tag-inspiration","tag-king-david","tag-no-fear","tag-overwhelmed","tag-perfect-love","tag-seek-me","tag-stress","tag-trust","tag-uncertainty","tag-when-i-am-afraid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13722"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13733,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13722\/revisions\/13733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mypeacezone.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}