Fear Not! God is on the Throne!

                                                                       Isaiah 12:2 (Fear)

Recently America experienced an election. Some liked the outcome. Others did not. As believers in Christ, we understand this truth: Regardless of the outcome, we can respond by faith, not fear, because God is on the throne.

In the context of America going to war, then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. Was he right? Knowing that common fears are,

Accountability, aging, broken relationships, the circumstances of life, commitment, danger, death, eternity, failure, the loss of acceptance, people, poverty, confrontational responses, suffering, terrorists, an uncertain future, and unrealized expectations, who or what do you fear?

A woman approached the evangelist D L Moody and said, I have recently found a wonderful promise in God’s Word: Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will trust in [Him].” Moody replied, I have a better promise than that: Isaiah 12:2 “I will trust and not be afraid.” If Corrie ten Boom is right and courage is fear that has said its prayers, then the antidote to our fears goes far beyond our faith to a recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You see, when we recognize Who Christ is, that He is God, we don’t have to be afraid.

Have you ever seen a marathon race or better yet, have you participated in one? The term Marathon is derived from the aftermath of that ancient Battle of Marathon when two Greek runners announced, The god of fear is with us, the god of fear is with us, Pan is with us. When they heard that, the invading Persians panicked. That’s how we got that word.

In Caesarea Philippi, at the headwaters of the River Jordan, just north of the Sea of Galilee, the followers of Jesus were standing at the base of the altar to the god of fear, Pan, who was credited by society as sending a 2 million man army of powerful Persians home. And, in the very presence of fear itself, Christ asked this question of His disciples in Matthew 16.15 Whom do you say that I am? Speaking for the group, Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God and, because You are God, we don’t have to be afraid. I like what God said in Isaiah 41:10 when He addressed our fears. He wrote, Fear not; for I am with you: and don’t be dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; and yes, I will uphold you with the [strong] right hand of [Who I am].

There are 365 Fear Nots in Scripture, one for every day of the year. Which one applies to you? Although great faith is found in the promises of God, the best faith finds its source in the One Who promised. Even though our faith at times may falter, never forget that God is not the source of fear. We are. Fear strikes out when we apply the truth that Jesus Christ is a God Whose faithfulness never fails. So the next time you’re tempted to fear, trust and don’t be afraid. Now go and live a God-centered life.

Have you ever been on a train when it went through a tunnel? When it did, did you throw away your ticket and jump or remain seated and trust the engineer? In every situation and circumstance in life, the divine engineer is Jesus. Since Jesus is never the source of our fear (2 Timothy 1:7). we can trust and not be afraid.