I recently was finishing up with a workout, and I had someone ask me, “Are you afraid?” We had been in conversation, and the question was with regard to all that is happening in our world right now. You will admit, whether it’s Covid-19, riots, protests, or the upcoming election, there is not an epidemic of cool heads and calm hearts these days.
I immediately responded, “No, I’m not afraid!” When I got back to the car, I began to process my response. Why don’t I feel an overwhelming sense of fear in the middle of these challenging times? Here are 4 reasons I am not afraid.
1. I trust God.
I know it sounds cliché, but I truly believe God when He says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” If we truly take God at His Word, something good will come out of this trial.
2. God is behind it.
In Mark 4:35, we find Jesus suggesting to the disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” The ironic thing is that it was at His suggestion that they headed out across the water, yet He knew all along that a storm was coming.
The Bible also says in Matthew 4:1 that Jesus was “…led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” It was because of the Spirit’s promptings that Jesus went into the wilderness, knowing full well that He was going to face temptation from Satan. There is nothing that happens in our lives that has not first passed through God’s hands. We have to always remember that if God did not want this circumstance to happen, it would not have happened.
3. God controls the elements.
In Mark 4:39, we find Jesus rebuking the wind and the waves. It says, “Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” He has complete charge over the elements of nature. During difficult times, there is no need to fear, because the very One who controls the wind and the storms is walking with me. There is nothing that our God can’t do.
4. Death is nothing.
Now, before I continue, I am not saying that the death of a loved one doesn’t cause real and intense pain for families. When I say, “Death is nothing,” I mean that from a believer’s perspective, there is nothing to fear in death.
Consider Jesus’ words in John 11:26, “Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” Paul also explains that as believers, we receive immortal bodies that will never die. In I Corinthians 15:53 he states, “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” As believers, we should view death as simply the beginning of our eternal life—a life with our Savior in bodies that are free from pain and sin. We have nothing to fear.
These reasons not to live in fear may sound over-simplified, but the reality is that they are not intuitive. They are not a given, nor are they obvious to us as humans. That is why we must intentionally set our minds to search for God through meditation on the Scripture.
None of us want to be somewhere where we aren’t wanted, and God is no different. He wants to be wanted, but He tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” When we search for Him with our whole heart—we will find Him!
What about you? Are you afraid today?
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