Source of Fear
Good Morning,
There are times in our lives when we fear. We may call it anxiety or distress, but those days come when sleep escapes us or our stomach feels sick. The apostle Paul spoke of being pressed out of measure. Jeremiah said that God had deceived him, and that he would not preach anymore (but, of course, he did).
The book of Isaiah points out the main source of our fear.
Isaiah 51:12 “I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;”
vs. 13 “And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?”
God is the One Who brings us comfort, and yet, we fear what men say or do. Verse 12 reminds us that man is like grass, green and alive today, but it may dry up and be gone tomorrow.
Verse 13 gives us the reason for our fear, we forget God! We forget that He is the One Who made all things, and we worry about men who made nothing.
Now, I understand that most of us do believe God made all things; we simply doubt that He will help us. We know God can, but we fear about whether God will. Whatever it is we are facing, let us not forget God. We may worry over decisions we have made or another has made, but we should leave justice in the hands of that One Who is perfect.
Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Paul points out that God gave His very best when we were far from anything of value. It was His love that moved Him – not our worthiness. When we were without strength or any form of righteousness (in that pitiful, condemned state), God sent His Son to die for our sins. Whether my poor choices, my sinful choices, or the evil choices of mankind around me, God is still good; God is still Almighty, and He is still worthy of our trust.
We will still have fears assault us, but let us seek to remember God; may our fears only briefly visit us and not establish residence in our hearts.
Isaiah 51:13 “… and hast feared continually every day….”
That is no way for a child of God to live.
Pastor