I am a busy person. Family, work, ministry, other activities … they keep me busy 28 hours a day (what? There’s only 24 hours a day? No wonder I’m hooked on caffeine.) Now, with time on my hands while recovering from surgery, I’ve been filling the hours reading and watching documentaries.
This past weekend I watched the entire mini-series “World At War” (excellent 3-part series for you history buffs). All the world leaders during the 30-year span of time (1914-1945) were included, along with famous quotes. FDR’s quote, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” was naturally included. This quote was actually from his first inaugural speech in 1933 (to rally citizens during the Great Depression), not during his address to Congress following the Pearl Harbor attack.
But back to the subject at hand … fear. Fear stops you dead in your tracks. Fear delays your ability to make important decisions. Fear cuts your feet out from under you, convincing you not to take risks. Fear is paralyzing (and FDR knew something about paralysis, since he succumbed to polio and was paralyzed from the waist down in 1921 when he was just 39).
Today, I relate to fear in my own circumstances. I have a lot of unknowns right now. I’m sure many of you do, too. Yesterday was not a great day for me, but today, I got up, suited up, and am ready to show up to face my fears head on. The Book of Psalms says a lot about fear:
Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger—whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:3: Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me.
Psalm 33:18-19: But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear Him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine!
Psalm 34:4: For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears.
Psalm 46:2: And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Psalm 49:5: There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, even though surrounded by enemies!
I believe God will care for me exactly like he did for David (a shepherd who became King) and so many others I read about and have known.
Until next time …
Tagged: fear and worry, scripture
