Devotions

Global Warming. Stock Market drops. Recession. School shootings. SARS. Ebola. COVID-19. Global Pandemic.

We cannot open a news app or paper without being bombarded with bad news. What precautions should we take? Should we hide in our houses – stock up on toilet paper and Lysol? Will this kill us all?

The truth is, probably not, but we do not really know the future. What we can be sure of is the word of God, and He says to us, “Do not fear.” In fact we are told a variation of “do not fear” over 350 times in the Bible.

I remember one time when I was overwhelmed by fear – stomach in knots, constant anxiety. I was pregnant; after my first child had arrived four weeks early and miscarrying another. I kept looking at the developmental charts trying to figure out if he/she would survive if born early.

I finally cried out to God, “I can’t do this anymore!” And God answered me, “Do not be afraid.” I was swept by such a feeling of peace as I decided to take God at his word and give over my fear to him.

He did not tell me that everything would be ok with my baby, but He did tell me to not be afraid and to trust him.

The same is true of us today. No matter what the current state of the world we are told to “Fear not.” We are also told in Psalm 91 that we are to make God our refuge. God also tells us in Psalm 139:16 “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

We do not need to be afraid. God’s got this.

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