Fear Not...

Fear Not...

Did you know, the command "fear not" is the most repeated command in the Bible?  There are over 365 references to calming your fears and anxieties.  One for everyday of the year and then some!

Fear is something we all face and handle in different ways.  Fear of loss, fear of death, of rejection, of the unknown, even fear of airplanes, spiders, heights, masks, clowns, the number thirteen.... Whew!  The list goes on and on.  No wonder God made it a priority for His people to know to "fear not, because He is always with us"  And for His people, He is patient and reminds us again and again day after day... fear not.

Here are a few of my favorite verses that I use in my daily life and I hope that they are a blessing to you as well.

For all my worriers out there, I keep this one on hand.  "Be anxious for nothing."  Philippians 4:6  One of my favorites.  I use this verse to remind me that things are out of my control.  And no matter how much I want to worry and fret, it changes nothing.  It doesn't help the situation it only makes me tired and more stressed.  So stop worrying, be anxious for nothing.

When the bills pile up around me and I'm afraid I'm not going to have enough money to feed myself or my family, or I'm going to be tossed out on to the street and end up living in a cardboard box, (yes, I've stressed out this much before...) I rely on this verse in Matthew:  Therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on, is not life more than food and body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)
He has always taken care of me, and even though my poor choices have put me in some pretty interesting predicaments, He has always provided for me.  It may not have been a steak dinner, but, I have never gone without.

We have all been wounded in love before and He tells us to guard our hearts, but He also thinks that love is the greatest thing ever.  So, do not give up on love, ever.  And when it comes to finding your mate, only the deepest, truest love will do.  And you will know when you find it because   1 John 4:18 tells us: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment and whosoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Do you love in fear or need or do you love in peace and perfection?

In Joshua 1:9, He has no time for foolishness he just puts it out there: Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord is with you wherever you go.
Any questions?  Didn't think so...

There will be nights that I lay awake wondering, half-planning, half-wishing what I want for my future.  I fear that I won't see my children grow and raise their own families.  I fear that I'll be stuck cutting hair for the rest of my life.  I fear that I will not see my dreams fulfilled.  I fear that my body or mind won't be strong enough to get me through the trials of my life.  But then Matthew comes to my rescue again and in the 6th chapter and the 34th verse it reads: Do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble.
Leave tomorrow's worries for tomorrow...  and then, be anxious for nothing! (Philippians 4:6)

Often we get caught up in feeling the need to defend ourselves.  How many times have you been accused of something that you were totally innocent of?  Or people would just talk about you behind your back without any cause at all?  Or being bullied.  You want to shout out and defend yourself, but sometimes things get so escalated that your voice falls on deaf ears.  You are resigned to think that everyone will believe the lies.  But the Bible says, fear not.  You will have your day and the truth will come to the surface.  Exodus 14:14 says:  The Lord will fight for you and you only have to be silent.

A most popular and favorite passage to deal with your deepest, darkest fears comes from Psalms.  The twenty-third Psalm is one of the most read and recognized and most comforting passage from the Bible.  Here is the 4th verse:  Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.
It calms me every time.

Another fear that used to haunt me day in and day out was my past.  I was not a good person.  I was frozen with guilt when I would recall some of the hurtful and hateful things I did once upon a time.  And even still, I struggle with letting my past go and forgiving myself but luckily Isaiah 43:1 reminds me that I am saved.  I have been forgiven.  All my sins have been washed away.  It says:  Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name and you are Mine.


These verses have helped me and continue to help me in my times of trouble.  You can take what you find useful and ignore the rest or go digging around for different ones that speak to you.  I am not posting these to start any kind of debate or fall into a context argument, but to hopefully offer you peace in a not so peaceful world and bring up the point that if He took the time to tell us over 365 times to fear not, He must have wanted us to do it.  I'm just helping you get started. 
Trust, children of God, that He sees your fears and he knows what you are going through.  Trust that He is faithful.

Fear not, for I am with you...  Isaiah 41:10

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