Fear not, for I am with you; I will strengthen you, and uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
I am quite familiar with this verse. I have had it on my mantle on a letter board for years. I simply can't change the letter board because this verse has been a balm to my soul through the years.
In true Kat fashion, I had to look up how many times in the Bible we are told not to fear. Of course, there are many versions of the Bible: "do not fear, fear not, have no fear, do not be afraid". But in the ESV, which is the version I read, there are 110 instances.
- "Do not be afraid": 33 times
- "Do not fear": 35 times
- "Have no fear": 5 times
- "Be not afraid": 3 times
Whichever your version, it's obvious that a common struggle we have is fear. And God tells us not to fear.
As a wife for almost 24 years and mom to an almost senior in high school, it's easy to be anxious when trials come, as I am sure whatever season of life you are in, you struggle as well. A new health scare, a lost opportunity, financial struggles, grief, job loss, future, the list can go on and on. God knows every single trial we face, and yet, He tells us to not fear or be afraid.
The definition of fear is "to be afraid or frightened of, or to be uneasy or apprehensive about." The definition of afraid is "filled with fear; frightened". What does God call us to when He is telling us to not let ourselves be filled with fear? He calls us to look to Him, to trust in Him.
Think back to the story of Peter in the boat during the storm in Matthew 14:22-23:
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I meditated on this. The disciples had literally just seen Jesus do the impossible. He fed the five thousand with mere scraps. He had provided even though it looked hopeless. He had provided food and nourishment for so many people from so little. And yet, they were in a storm pretty shortly after, and panicked and were fearful and terrified from the storm and when they saw him, they thought He was a ghost. Peter wanted to walk to Jesus on the water and Jesus commanded him to do so. It then says when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid. He took his eyes off Jesus, and he was afraid and began to sink. Jesus rebuked him for his doubt.
I can relate to Peter far too much: when a situation looks impossible, it's hard to believe the Lord will do a mighty work. But He does. What is the lesson here? I can't take my eyes off Him. I can't look at the hopeless situation. I can't doubt how He will provide. I can't try to interpret it through my limited understanding. What is He trying to teach us? Don't look at the impossible. Don't look at the "wind and waves" around me, look to Jesus alone.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. Like Peter, we will begin to sink the moment we focus on the wind and waves of our circumstances. Choose instead to turn your gaze back to Christ through prayer and meditation on His Word and His promises to you.
