FEAR NOT

Isaiah 41:13
I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”
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It was a sight that is fun to watch. Glittering lights, towering rides, games and street foods. It was my first time to be in that place. Filipinos call it “karnabal o peryahan” (loosely translated as carnival, but it is far from the real one). The first ride that caught my fancy was the ferris wheel. I immediately asked my father to accompany me, and he readily said yes.

But the fun quickly vanished, and immediately replaced by fear. It was my first time to ride on it, and the first stop saw us hanging at the highest point of the wheel. I was trembling and crying. My father hugged me and told me not to look down, but rather look up to the sky and adore the stars. I was looking up and adoring them in the duration of the ride. The fear was not completely gone, but the crying and the trembling was. With my father at my side, I can do anything… but with the sky and stars to watch and behold, I can dispel fear and anything that goes with it.

As I go through life, I sometimes feel being afraid. The spirit of fear overcomes me. Now, I know the Lord gives me the strength to overcome this spirit of fear. He has given us the spirit and the power of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). Although the world has every right to fear, the children of God must be fearless in these days. When we have a relationship with God, we can rely on His promises. We can be strong and of good courage. We can fear nothing because God is with us, He will not fail us, nor forsake us. This is His promise. And as a faithful God, we need to have faith in Him.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, help me overcome fear of man and of the unknown. May I look up to you and seek Your mighty name so I may not be afraid of being alone, not to be afraid of being too weak, not to be afraid of not being heard, and not to be afraid for our physical necessities. I know I can, because I have put my total trust in You. For there is nothing to fear but You alone.

Amen +

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.