My recollections of childhood are getting foggier as the years go by. One memory is crystal clear. I recall waking in the middle of the night. Afraid of the dark, afraid of the strange night-time sounds, afraid of the unknown, I scurried down the hall to find refuge. Snuggled up next to my dad in his big bed, with my head on his shoulder, I drifted off into restful, peaceful sleep. Wrapped in my father’s arms, I had nothing to fear.
I’m a big boy now, so I’m usually not afraid of the dark. But sometimes the unknown still gets to me. You?
Can you hear the reassuring, comforting voice of the Father? He speaks softly and tenderly, saying, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV).
Memorize that one. It could come in handy.
There are lots of things to worry about. This blasted pandemic is real. I worry about getting the disease and about infecting those that I love. The economic forecast is uncertain. There’s lots to fear... lots of unknowns and uncertainties.
According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 say they've considered suicide in the past month because of the pandemic. Satan will try to trick you. He’ll say it’s easy to swallow a bottle of pills. He’ll say, “take the easy way out...”
But God’s Word says something different.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV).
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, ESV).
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, ESV).
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, ESV).
“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).
Fear not!
South Georgia Baptist Church
Amarillo, Texas
Mike Martin, Pastor
mike@southgeorgiabaptistchurch.org