FEAR NOT-- YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

 

How do you respond when you are overwhelmed, afraid, or uncertain about a situation? Do you panic, cry, pray, call family and friends, or do you do none of the above? I wish, as Christians, we were never afraid, but the truth is we are not immune from fear and worry. If we were, God wouldn’t have to remind us as often as He does not to fear. In addition, He tells us why we shouldn’t fear: “I am with you.” If we were never afraid, we could be tempted to think we have such wisdom, discernment, and resources that we could accomplish every task we set out to accomplish. In short, we could think we were self-sufficient, and therefore, didn’t need God -- or anybody else for that matter. That’s the devil’s strategy: how he succeeded in misleading the first couple, Adam and Eve. He told them they’ll be like God, implying they wouldn’t need God any longer. Problems beyond our abilities are good reminders that we can do nothing without God (see John 15:5).

Let’s look at instances where people of faith could have been afraid but weren’t, or chose to not be. When they wouldn’t bow down to his statue, King Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a furnace so hot that even the guys who threw them in, despite being outside it, died from the heat. These three Hebrew guys had decided from the onset they were not going to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, no matter what. They knew God was able to deliver them, but would He? Maybe yes or maybe no. Either way, they were never going to serve or worship the golden statue (see Daniel 3:16-18).

And He did deliver them! In that overly-heated furnace, they did not sustain any injuries, their clothes did not catch on fire, they walked in the fire unbound, and on top of all that, they had company - God was the fourth man in the furnace! (See Daniel 3:24). God reminds us: “When you go through deep waters, I’ll be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God” (Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT).

Fear not, you are not alone!

 

Later in this Old Testament book, Daniel’s contemporaries, out of envy, manipulated King Darius into signing a document that put Daniel’s life in danger. Daniel broke the law that prohibited the people from praying to anyone else except the king (see Daniel 6:4-16). Needless to say, Daniel continued his prayer routine, which was three times a day. His accusers verified it and immediately went to report the incident to the king. The punishment was being thrown into the den of lions. Their hope was that the lions would devour Daniel, getting him out of the way. But that’s not what happened. According to Daniel’s own account, “My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty” (Daniel 6:22 NLT).  

Again, God came to the rescue! Daniel was safe with the lions, and was lifted from the den, alive: “Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted his God” (Daniel 6:23). God further demonstrated that Daniel was not hurt, not because the lions were not hungry, but because He prevented them from hurting him because the same lions, in the same den, had a feast when these wicked men and their families were thrown in at the king’s orders (see Daniel 6:24). 

Fear not, you are not alone!

Once, Jesus was with His disciples in a boat on a lake. He was asleep in the back of the boat when a fierce storm suddenly came up and the boat started filling with water. Naturally, the disciples were afraid; they woke Him up and asked Him, “Don’t you care that we are going to drown?” (Mark 4:38 NLT). Jesus was in the boat! Were they really going to drown? Of course not. Jesus’ response after rebuking the storm was to question the disciples: “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith” (Mark 4:39 NLT)?

Do not fear, you are not alone!

What are your fears and concerns today as you read this? You are not alone; God knows where you are and what’s going on. Turn over your needs to Him. Let’s remind ourselves that God is watching over us 24/7; He wants us to call on Him and to trust Him. 

Fear not, you are not alone!