Do Not Fear!

Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

I had stopped at the Dollar Tree to get a couple of things for a project that I am about to begin.  While I was looking for the glue sticks, I heard a lady cough. That cough was then followed by an eruption of coughing.  The cough was deep and raspy, it erupted from her chest and echoed throughout the small store. I didn’t pay much attention, at first, but then the hacking continued.  I stepped out of the aisle and cast a caution eye across the shop. The store was quiet except for the coughing. The employees had stopped ringing, the customers had stopped shopping and the manager stood in the front.  Her indecision written all over her face. It was mixed with a genuine look of fear. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and all their attention was focused on the middle aged lady in aisle three. 

I will admit that for the first time during this Covid-19 situation, I was experiencing genuine fear.  With every cough, my mind raced and questioned. Should I leave my shopping and exit the store? Could she be infected and has she just infected us all?  The hurricane of questions gained speed in my brain, tearing through my sense of peace. I wasn’t the only one caught in the swirl of uncertainty. My fellow patrons stood motionless, their faces betraying their thoughts. The chill of fear emanated from us all.   

God commands us to not fear.  In fact, “do not fear” is in the Bible 80 times.  Seems to me that if it is repeated this often, then God wants to bring home the point.  Whenever we allow fear to control us, we are decreasing hope and limiting our victory. We cannot let hope fall to fear.  We have to hold on to our hope in Christ with both hands. Without it, there is no victory. 

I know that this is a confusing  time, unprecedented in our lifetimes, however, no matter what you hear, no matter what you see, remember, God is ultimately in charge. You have nothing to fear.  His Word tells us so.

Do not fear, but rather encourage your faith.  Encourage those in your life. Do not let fear win over.

Typist for Jesus