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

80 years ago today, Japanese air forces attacked the Pearl Harbor U.S. base in Hawaii. And suddenly a nation was afraid... and at war. Fearful of where a strike might happen next. Fearful of what might be around the corner. Fearful of the unknown.

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 can cause us to just freeze being unable to help, unable to think clearly.

Fear can cause us to run, to flee, to take flight. Fear can cause us to fight, to be come 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, to trust and believe. Fear causes us to thrash about in the water, even after we’ve taken a few steps of faith… a few steps on that water.

Fear can 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 character, 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 life, 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.

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

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem