Fear Not

It’s almost Halloween. Homes are decorated with skeletons, ghosts, cobwebs, and spiders. Networks have been showing scary movies all month.  The news media has been telling us scary stories for months now.

No matter who wins next week, nearly half of our nation has been led to believe the new President will destroy our nation.

Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today. Exodus 14:13.

I have been studying Judges this fall. My regular read through the Bible has me reading Jeremiah. Very scary books of the Bible! Sad, depressing, disturbing – more so than most of the movies that dominate the airwaves in October. Like listening to some of the political pundits.

One of the problems in these Old Testament stories was that the people did not know who to believe. Some prophets said one thing and others said another. All claimed Godly wisdom and authority. Successful people were often ungodly; ungodly people were often used by God; without clear direction, the people chose what was right in their own eyes.

The good news here is that God never forsook, still doesn’t forsake, his people. In the time of judges, we have the beautiful story of Ruth and Boaz and Naomi. While Jeremiah is predicting doom, he buys land in faith they will return. God constantly calls for us to return to Him in faith.

If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

This is not a call to “them.” This is a call to me, to you.

Skeletons may adorn our neighborhood, psychotic killers may inundate our movies, national upheaval or collapse may seem imminent, but I am turning my eyes and ears away from all that. I will put my faith in God, and Him alone. I have voted, but do not believe the fate of this country is in the hands of the next President. The fate of our country is in the hands of God.

The level of fear around me concerns me. Fear breeds anger and violence. Fear agitates our spirits and steals our peace. In fear, we either abdicate in despair or fight as a one-man army. Fear tells us to protect ourselves at all costs.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he has first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19.

God calls us to leave fear behind and love those who disagree with us. God calls us to put our trust in Him, who will not fail us, and not in the things of this earth, which will fail us. Faith, not in our money, not in our economy, not in our army, not in our alliances, not in our government, in God and God alone.

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They shall collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. Psalm 20: 7-8.

Scary times are all around us. Scary times confront most generations, most peoples, most nations. Our response as Christians to scary times is not fear; our response is love and prayer and a renewed commitment to look to Jesus.

Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10.

Happy Halloween, Blessed All Saint’s, be sure to vote.

Love in Christ, Betsy