Last week I accompanied my daughter and grandchildren to the pediatrician where the kids each got a shot.  My grandson was fine about it, but my granddaughter, who was fearful, cried.  When it was over she admitted she hadn’t felt a thing, and that it was all a big nothing, certainly not worth fretting about.

I think this speaks volumes to the human condition. We are afraid of so many things, most of which are like that shot, a big nothing. We indulge in “what if this” and “what if that” until we work ourselves into a lather.  But simply saying “there’s nothing to fear” didn’t cut it with my granddaughter, and it doesn’t cut it with us. So how do we stop worrying and being fearful? By replacing our fears with something or someone bigger. And that someone is God.

At least 365 times, in different wording, the Bible tells us not to fear. I think because God knows our weak frame, He gave us something for each day of the year. In its basic sense, fear is simply lack of faith, lack of trust in God, in Who He is and in what He says He can do. If we truly believed, our fears, for the most part, would vanish and be replaced by what the Bible calls the “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

This world will give us many opportunities to fret and fear, but the more we get to know God, get to know Who He is, the closer and more intimate our relationship becomes, the less we will be plagued by these “big nothings” and even when something sizable comes along, we will be able to face it with peace and confidence in knowing that our God is more than up to the challenge, and He will see us through.

Until next week,

Sylvia

Nothing destroys peace of mind like fears about tomorrow and these days people everywhere are worried about something: their jobs, their families, their finances, terrorism, the possibility of nuclear war, the list goes on and on. And though these problems are real, Christians are commanded by Scripture not to be fearful or to worry but to cast all their cares upon Jesus, no matter how big or impossible the circumstances.  Jesus says, in Matthew 10:29-31 that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without God knowing it, and that we are worth more than sparrows.  He also says the very hairs of our head are numbered. Yes, He has numbered every hair on our head!  And if He cares about such a seemingly insignificant detail about each of us, surely He knows and cares about the "big stuff” in our lives as well.

Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” What an exchange! What Jesus is saying here is if we yoke up with Him, if we walk beside Him and walk in His ways and get to know Him in a personal way, then He will give our souls rest by carrying our burdens. That word “souls” in Greek is psuche from which psyche comes from, and refers to the mind. Jesus is talking about giving us peace of mind, and when we have peace of mind we are not worrying about things.

In 1Timothy 1:7 the Apostle Paul says “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  By this we see that God doesn’t want us going through life worried and afraid, but to walk in the power and love He has given us, and to maintain that soundness of our minds by walking closely with Jesus and allowing Him to help shoulder the burdens of our life.  

No circumstance, no matter how difficult, can void out the word of God.  He will deliver what He promises if we will follow what He says. The only questions remaining: Do we believe it? And will we do it?

Until next week,

Sylvia