If someone asked you what you were afraid of, what would you say? Most men would most likely never admit that they are scared of anything, because, well that’s just unmanly or would show vulnerability, right? But if we dig down deep to the truth, there are likely things that make us uneasy, or even fearful of what might happen. If you have a phone or watch TV at all, you have surely seen political ads that try to make you afraid of what the other candidate would do if elected. Do those fears sway your vote? There are millions of parents each day that say ‘no’ to their children from fear that they might get hurt or killed if they let them do what they want. Have you ever been afraid that you might lose your job, get hurt or sick, or lose those closest to you? The horror writer Steven King once said his greatest fear was losing his memory and identity. There are a lot of things that could happen each day that would devastate us and change our lives, but most of these fears never come to be. What do you fear the most about the future?
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
When you are afraid, where do you turn? Do you try to change the outcome by doing whatever is within your power? If the outcome is out of your control, you may be at the mercy of whatever factors determine your fate. Do you believe that prayer can influence the outcome of any given desperate situation? Do you ever share these experiences with others, whether big or small requests that were answered? More and more, I share with my kids and say “When I was your age, this is what I did, and this is what happened.” Or, “When I was afraid, this is what I did or how I prayed.” Honestly, since I became a child of God and was born again, there has been very little that has scared me, as my ultimate hope is in Christ, whether I live or die. If you asked Lazarus whether he was afraid of anything after he was raised from the dead, he probably would have laughed. As we encounter things that might frighten us or make us worry in this world, let us put our faith and hope even more in the One who controls all things!
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
Yours in Christ,
Clark
