“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.”
– Acts 18:9
![]() Fear Not! Do Not Be Afraid! These commonly used Biblical commands always precede God doing something really great in a person’s life. For instance, every time an angel appears to one of the Lord’s chosen, whether Mary before becoming pregnant with Jesus or the Apostle Paul before surviving a shipwreck, He tells that person to not be afraid. The presence of an angelic being alone, full of power and celestial glory, would be enough to make anyone tremble in fear, at least in the moment; but after the call of God is given, there is an even greater opportunity for worry and anxiety to set in. The world is full of obstacles and there are more opportunities for angst and fear than ever before. When Jesus calls us to do something great for His Name, we have to swim upstream, cling to faith, and choose to live in His Kingdom, not look at the world around us. If we focus only on what we see, we will find it hard to trust His unhurried heart because it’s contrary to everything our society and culture teaches. Friend, doing life in the Kingdom of God means that you don’t have to be afraid of your weaknesses or limitations, because you live in His strength! When He calls you to do something beyond your own power, you can rejoice, because He will give you the ability to endure and conquer! As counterintuitive as it sounds, surrendering your right to worry enables you to experience a supernatural infilling that empowers you to stay at rest, even while you labor. Jesus invites you to exist in a spiritual world where there is never lack or shortage and where fear can be transformed into soul-changing, life-giving faith! Isn’t that wonderful news? |
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that I don’t have to be afraid, no matter what you call me to do. I choose to rest in your strength and sufficiency and to surrender my fear.
Reflection
What has God called you to do that’s beyond your natural ability? How has this given you an opportunity to step into the fullness of His Kingdom and lean on His sufficiency?