The Reason We Don't Have to Fear
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.’” Isaiah 43: 1-2
His Love Can Never Fail – Verse 1: “I do not ask to see the way my feet will have to tread; but only that my soul may feed upon the living Bread. ’Tis better far that I should walk by faith close to His side; I may not know the way I go, but oh, I know my Guide.”
I’ve never been the poster child for bravery. Really, ask anyone. I jump about a foot every time I see a snake, and I can’t help screaming if someone startles me. I shake uncontrollably if I have to speak in public and until I know you pretty well, you can pretty much guarantee that I’m scared of what you think of me. Yep, I’m kind of a scaredy cat, but we all are about some things.
It’s scary not knowing the future, starting at a new school, or walking into a room where you don’t know anyone. Our world is full of situations that cause us to be afraid. But do you know what the most repeated commandment in the Bible is? Do not be afraid. God tells us this over and over again in His scriptures.
So what’s a girl to do? Whenever the Bible tells us not to fear, it also reminds us to lean on the One who is in control of everything. Joshua 1:9 tells us not to be afraid or discouraged because God is always with us. His presence goes before you in any situation you’re in – you are never alone; what a wonderful thing!
Isaiah 43 reminds us to not be afraid because the God of the universe calls us by name. We are his precious and beloved children who he delights in and takes care of. The One who works all things together for our good is trustworthy and keeps his promises. He is with us, working for us, comforting us in everything – when we are assured of that, what is left to fear?
I love the hymn “His Love Can Never Fail” and the first verse is one of my favorites because it speaks to the fear I have of the future. No matter what stage of life you’re in, I’m willing to bet you sometimes get a little scared of what’s to come too, whether it’s who’s going to take you to prom, or what college you will go to, or if you’ll get a job afterwards.
But we sing in that verse that even though we don’t know what’s going to happen, as long as we’re walking with Him, it’s enough to know our Guide. Even if life is totally uncertain, we know without a shadow of a doubt that His love can never and will never fail us.
It will sustain us through the uncertain, the scary, and the difficult. Though our world is constantly shifting under our feet, the more we root ourselves in His unfailing love, the less it can shake us and leave us quaking with fear. We may not know anything else, but we know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are loved and secure in Him.
If you believe in Jesus, he gives you a permanent identity that can make you brave even in the face of uncertainty. Life can be scary, but the Lord has you in His grip and He won’t ever let go because you are His. Bravery doesn’t have to be something huge. A lot of times it’s little steps forward, made possible because you know you are held in His grasp.