Overcoming Fear; Are You Scared?
I was twelve years old and it was the opening day of deer season. It was still dark. The sun would not even think about rising for another thirty minutes. I climbed into the deer stand as Daddy’s flashlight illuminated the boards nailed into the tree.
He watched as I got settled in then handed me my new Winchester 30-30. Before he walked to his stand he asked me, are you scared? I said no, I’m alright. But I lied.
You see it was dark. My daddy was about to leave me sitting on a board in a tree. I was scared. But I wasn’t going to tell Daddy. Because even though I was scared, I knew I would be all right.
I trusted my Daddy. I knew that he would not be far away. He would not leave me in danger. So even when I was just twelve, I knew you could be scared and still be alright.
I have not counted them all for myself. I have been told that throughout the Bible, we are reassured with the phrase “do not be afraid or fear not” 365 times. This reassurance appears once for every day of the year. That is one fear not for every day of the year. I am aware that throughout the Bible, almost every time angels appear, they first say, “Do not be afraid.”
I have thought about this a lot. I have come to believe that God is not saying that fear is sinful. Nor is fear a bad thing. Fear teaches us to be careful and seek safety. We learn in Psalm 34:4 that if we seek the Lord, He will answer us. He will deliver us from all our fears. For this reason, if you are in Christ, you are going to be alright.
Even now I am often scared. But when I am afraid, I trust in God. Just like my Daddy would never leave me in danger, God will never leave His children in danger. He will never be far away. When He says fear not, He is saying “I know you are scared.
But trust Me. I promise you, you are going to be alright.
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email- douglas@pavementendsministry.com
From The Bible
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I shall see my desire on those who hate me.”
Psalms 118:1-7 NKJV
