People are very afraid today. Fear is endemic in our society, as Jesus prophesied it would be in the last days. ‘Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world’ (Lk. 21:26). Fear is a powerful force in its own right, whether the thing feared comes to pass or not. It can grip our hearts and minds and make it impossible to enjoy life - like those toddlers unable to see the fun they could be having on the roundabout! You may have heard it said that New Testament says 'don't be afraid' 366 times - one for every day of the year and one for a leap year!
Whatever happens in Westminster or Brussels God is still on his throne and is not wringing his hands in fear that the wrong decision will be made. Extremists on both sides may accuse me of sitting on the fence or failing to discern real dangers, but I prefer to trust the God who says that he loves us and has an exciting plan for our lives.
In my book Braving the Storm I offer a list of 10 fear-fighting Bible texts and I will include them here. Go on - choose to trust God and don't be afraid to enjoy the ride!
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I
will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Deuteronomy 20:3b,4
Do not be faint-hearted or afraid;
do not be terrified or give way to panic before [your enemies], for the LORD your God is the one
who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
1 Chronicles 28:20
…Be strong and courageous, and do
the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with
you. He will not fail you or forsake you ...
Isaiah 43:1,2
But now, this is what the LORD says
– he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I
have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be
burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my
salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom
shall I be afraid?
Psalm 118:6
The LORD is with me; I will not be
afraid. What can man do to me?
Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a
snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Hebrews 13:5,6
…because God has said, ‘Never will
I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is
my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of
timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Psalm 56:3,4.
When I am afraid, I will trust in
you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What
can mortal man do to me?
