Thursday, October 15, 2015

TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR


In Isaiah 43:1, we read: “But now, this says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.’”


She was on edge. Everyone in the small town was on edge. A teenage girl had disappeared. No amount of searching had found a clue.

 She jumped at the slightest noise and found it difficult to concentrate at school even though her dad had told her they were safe. She didn’t sleep well and woke at the slightest noise even though Buddy, her Boston Bull terrier, slept in his bed on the floor close to hers.

She had dropped into a restless sleep when her eyes popped open. She lay still, fearing for her life. A hand stroked her right cheek. She was afraid to move, terrified. How if?

She took a deep breath. “Daddy!” She yelled at top volumn. The hand didn’t move. Maybe the person that owned the hand was deaf. She heard Daddy coming, click on the overhead light.

And he laughed. By that time, Mama came in. She covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Then Daddy walked over to my bed and gently removed my left arm that was resting on my pillow--over my head. My arm was numb...had gone to sleep.

Repeated constantly for us through the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus reminds us, “Fear Not.” When I realize that He created me, He formed me and He redeemed me, I stand amazed. But more than that, the Scriptures tell me that He calls me by my name and declares I am His! This is too wondrous to comprehend. All I can do is praise Him and thank Him.

Kingdom thinking. Life constantly presents me with choices--to believe the promises of the Scriptures or believe the shadows that plague me. The Lord Jesus has promised never to leave nor forsake me. He loves me with an everlasting love. He knows me by name. He offers the same to you. His arms are open. Won’t you come to Him?