God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
(Psalm 46:1-3)
It never ceases to amaze me how often I open a scripture reading for the day and find the words “do not fear” or something similar.
The prophet Isaiah says, “Fear not.”
The angel said to Mary (and Zechariah, and the shepherds), “Do not be afraid.”
Jesus said to Jairus (after they were told his daughter was dead), “Do not fear, only believe.”
And the writer of 1 John reminds us, “perfect love casts out fear.”
It often seems we live in a fear-based society. Politicians scare up votes (pun intended) by telling us who we should be afraid of. Advertising is based on the fear of missing out. The media is constantly stoking fears of not enough. It’s as if the whole world is telling us, “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
I am not saying all fear is bad. My fear of snakes is perfectly rational and justified. I mean, just look at them. And some of them are poisonous! Fear is an evolutionary adaptation to protect us from real dangers, like poisonous snakes.
When that fear is manipulated to get us to vote for someone, or buy something, or turn against a neighbor, then we need to open our Bibles and hear again the reassuring words, “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
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