Your Daily Devotional for May 12, 2006

May 12, 2006

 

Fear Not

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 43:1, 2

 

“No Fear” is a phrase that we have all seen printed on hats and t-shirts. It sends the message that the wearer is not afraid to attempt some feat that involves an element of risk like repelling with ropes down the side of a cliff. Yet today, while the world yells “No fear!” God cries out to each of us, “Fear not.”

 

Not long ago, I received a call from a missionary in Mindanao, a city in the Philippines not far from Indonesia where Islamic rebels have been very active. “We got to see your youth group at another pastor’s church, and they were such a blessing,” the missionary said. “The next time a group from your church comes to the Philippines, would you send them to our island? The people there need the Lord. I know the news reports say that it’s not a good place, but I live there and the Lord protects us.”

 

I’m convinced that with God as our guiding Saviour telling us to “fear not,” we can truly live a life with no fear—not because of our boldness or our strength, but because of the God who lives within us. God has promised His people a measure of protection. In Isaiah 54:17 the Bible says to the children of Israel that no weapon that is formed against them will prosper.

 

 “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned…” reminds me of a story in the book of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar had called all of the people in the kingdom of Babylon together and commanded them to bow down and worship him. Three Hebrew children refused to bow, so Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a heated furnace expecting to hear them cry out and to see them consumed by the fire.  

 

Much to his surprise, Daniel 3:25 tells us that when the king looked inside the furnace, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Although Nebuchadnezzar tried to destroy the ministry of these three Hebrew children, their ministry was not finished until God said it was finished; He protected them.

 

There will be times in your life when you’ll experience fiery trials. You’ll feel vulnerable and may question God’s purpose. At such times, you must realize that each trial you experience is Father-filtered. God will allow them, yes, but if you have a heart for God and are living in His will, you have no need to fear for He is with you. Proverbs 18:24b says that “there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,” and His name is Jesus. When the whole world walks out on you, He is still there.

 

Have you been focusing on your fears lately? Let me encourage you to shift your focus to the Protector, choose His will for your life, and claim His promise of protection today.

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