DELIVERED FROM FEAR
Kendra Intihar
Today's Scripture: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4, ESV
Theme: We have peace when we seek the Lord, and He delivers us from all our fears.
WHAT THE WORLD OFFERS
We are living in a very fear-driven era and culture. We’re surrounded by messaging which preys on our insecurities and feeds our worries. And here’s the worst part, brothers and sisters: We Christians are among the most frequent perpetrators of fear-based rhetoric.
You have seen it; I have seen it; and odds are good that we’ve even been willing participants in encouraging fear in others. Just this morning, I saw a post from one of my believing friends beseeching me to be worried about a thing she thinks is scary. And for at least a second, I capitulated to that instinct. The world can be a scary place!
The thing about fear is this: The enemy loves it. Thrives on it. Wants us to revel in it, spread it, and infect others with it. If we can get sucked into the fear vortex, we become distracted, and our witness becomes ineffective. Said differently, we begin to evangelize fear instead of the Good News we were sent out to proclaim. A false gospel of fear tells the world that we don’t believe our God is strong enough, wise enough, or present enough for whatever the world has going on. It says, “Look at this awful thing! Be afraid! Tell your family to be afraid! The world cannot be set right if this fear comes to pass!”
Does that sound like Jesus to you? Is there any trouble in this world that He has not already overcome? (See John 16:33!)
WHAT JESUS OFFERS
During His earthly ministry, Jesus told us there would be many things that would cause fear. Yet one of the things that should set us apart as believers is the peace that Jesus gives us – a peace that surpasses all human understanding (Philippians 4:7). We may label ourselves Christians, but if we’re perpetuating fear in ourselves and others, we aren’t following Jesus. Read that last sentence again. It stung a little to write it, so it may sting a little to read it, too. But that might be just what we need to catalyze a fresh wave of His peace in our lives. Fear is what happens when we put too much faith in our own efforts or in things beyond our control, like worldly institutions, political constructs, and other fallible human beings. Fear is a burden given to us by “the world.”
By contrast, look at what Jesus says as He compares the peace He gives us with what the world gives us:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27, ESV).
This is the soothing balm of Grace given to you and to me, brothers and sisters. We were set apart to be different from the world and to show them what Jesus looks like. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, will keep us in perfect peace when we follow Him. The Peace of Christ inside of us is what our unbelieving neighbors need to see – are desperate to see – when they look in our direction. Jesus is our Deliverer, and He wants to deliver us from the heavy burden of fear.
Make it Personal: Scripture tells us not to be afraid approximately 365 times. I love this number because it reminds me that for every day of the year, there is a corresponding admonition in Scripture to live fearlessly. In each area of our lives, we can either have peace or fear, but we cannot have both – they are incompatible states of being. It helps to remember which one Jesus has called us to.
Pray: Jesus, in You, I am a new creation. The world tells me to stay afraid, but You tell me, “Fear not.” The world wants me to be anxious, but You give me peace. I confess that I am often fearful because of the things happening in the world around me, and I ask You to replace that fear with faith and to replace my anxiety with Your peace. Amen.
Read: Isaiah 26:3; John 16:33; 2 Timothy 1:7
Weekly Memory Verse:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. Psalm 23:4, ESV