God is familiar with all our fears. He’s been there with us and for us. He knows how we respond to dangerous or challenging situations–with fear! Consider these verses:
- “Fear not, Abram, …” Genesis 15:1
- “Fear not, for I am with you…” Isaiah 41:7
- “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel…” Isaiah 41:14
- “Fear not, O Jacob, my servant…” Jeremiah 46:28
- “Fear not, little flock…” Luke 12:32
But here’s the thing…God rejects NO ONE on account of their fears. Rather, God sees fear as an opportunity for his Holy Spirit to help us build our trust in him. He’s not going to pass us by simply because we are afraid. If God wants to use us, he will use us, no matter our fears. Get used to it. Grow your faith by trusting God and obeying his commands for you, especially when you are afraid. You will discover that God is always with you. He will never let you down. He will walk through those flames with you, and he will hold you close to himself. Yes, you may even die. But the Lord has you in himself. He will resurrect you and give you life eternal.
God is good. Jesus knew fear. Luke tells us that before the agony of the cross, Jesus’s “sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground,” (Luke 22:44). Jesus did die, but just look at what his death accomplished. Because of his trust and obedience to God his Father–alongside his fear of the torturous cross–Jesus conquered death itself.
The important thing is always pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. Stay very close to the Holy Spirit in your heart and in God’s word of Scripture. Ask the Lord to help you hear him correctly. Check out your understanding of his commandment to you over and over and over again. When you are sure that you are hearing God correctly, then tell him your intentions to act. Ask him to overrule you if you are wrong, to let you know. Plead with him to reveal any mistakes in your heart. When you have done all this, and God is still telling you to go, then go. He will not fail you. He will be with you. We have his unbreakable promise on this. Our reward for allegiance to Jesus our King is eternal life–with him, forever. That is the best part.
Be strong and take heart, and have no fear, for it is the Lord your God who is going with you. He will not take away his help from you. —Deuteronomy 31:6