Fear Not!

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." - Isaiah 35:3-4 ESV

These verses really popped out to me when I read them not long ago. They seem as if they were written for right now. There’s so much in the world today that might make us afraid of the future. Things seem to be rapidly going downhill, and there’s so much division and anger, it can feel like everything is out of control and there’s nothing we can do about it. I know several people struggling with anxiety today; I’m sure you do, too.

These verses offer such great hope for our anxious hearts. God knows our struggles and He will take care of them for us. He will make sure that those who are doing evil in the world will be repaid for their actions. He will come and save us in His perfect timing. When we trust God, He strengthens us through His Spirit. We can be strong and unafraid as we wait for Him because He’s with us in the waiting. How encouraging this is!

When we suffer with anxious thoughts and have difficulty remembering how to be strong and fear not, the cure is found in Philippians 4.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

We need to tell God about our anxious thoughts and, when we do, we will find peace, the peace of God. When we consistently follow this instruction, that peace guards our hearts and minds so that those anxious thoughts can’t creep back in.

Think About:

• What makes your heart anxious?

• How consistent is your prayer life? What can you do to be more consistent?

P.S. One more thought. Philippians 4:7 ends with “in Christ Jesus.” That means the peace of God comes to us through our relationship with Jesus. If you have questions about what I mean by a “relationship with Jesus” or how to have one, please contact me perfectlycomp@gmail.com. You can also message me through the Perfectly Complete Facebook page. I’d love to talk Jesus with you.