Be Not Afraid

   Jesus repeatedly told His disciples to be not afraid.  When He came to them walking on the water and they thought He was a ghost He reassured them, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” (Matt 14: 27).  At the last supper as He was preparing them for his passion and crucifixion He again reassured them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14: 27).

   Jesus brought peace, love and mercy.  Fear had no place in His ministry, only hope and faith in Him.  Fear can destroy our faith if we allow it.  All too often we find fear in the matters of this world.  It almost seems as if we seek it out at times.

   We worry about things that we cannot change; we worry over things we are trying to change.  We fear tomorrow and worry that yesterday will catch up with us.  We let our fears dominate our lives in many ways.  When we let fear drive our actions rather than giving our fears to Jesus we are failing as Christians.  He is there for us and wishes to help us in all things including fear.

   There is no room for fear in our spiritual life.  Satan is the agent of fear and anxiety.  When we fail to place our hope and faith in the Lord and begin to fear worldly things we are falling prey to his ways.  In our fear the evil one hopes to weaken our faith that all things are well because of Jesus.  He wants us to question our faith and wonder if Jesus really does have all things under control.

   If we let the cares and worries of this world bring our faith into question, we have failed to trust in the promises of Jesus.  He suffered for our sins; He died on the cross for them.  He rose from the dead as we are to rise at His coming.  He ascended into heaven to intercede for us with the Father.  He forgives us and makes all things new.

   When we trust in Him fear has no control over our lives.  Fear is replaced with hope and confidence in the love and mercy of our Lord.

   “Hence we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13: 6)