Fear

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.” - Psalm 27:1-3 ESV

Fear can be debilitating. It can tear us down and steal our confidence. It can bring great anxiety that has us feeling as if we are boxed in and the walls are moving closer.

Fear can cause us to freeze up, to not move or do. It causes to just freeze being unable to help, unable to think clearly.

Fear can cause us to run, to flee, to panic, to take flight. Fear can cause us to fight, to become angry, to defend.

Fear keeps men from rising up to greatness. Fear keeps men cowering in a boat, while the Savior beckons us to step out and walk on water. Fear causes us to thrash about in the water, even after we’ve taken a few steps on that very same water.

Fear can also be healthy as it causes us to prepare, to strengthen, to fortify. Fear can cause us to plan and strategize. It can be the catalyst to help us think outside the box, help us become creative, help see things we may never have seen otherwise.

And then... there is the fear of the Lord. The great respect. The awe. The knowing of His great strength, His great knowledge, even His great wrath. The knowing of His history, His dependability, His promises, His love. The knowing of the Greatest Gift of all, His Son who He sent to live and die and live again so that we might have life.

As we face the fears of today and tomorrow, whether large or small or somewhere in between, let us not be afraid. For we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We know that we are never alone. We know that God is bigger and God is in control.

Though I may fear... I will not be afraid, for I know from where my help comes. I will have faith over fear.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem

Photo by Dusty Doddridge