All of us have experienced fear in some form or another in our lifetime. It is a funny thing because our fears are usually blown way out of proportion to the reality of what really happens.
Fear is something that all of us have to learn to deal with. When we are with Jesus we can know that there is no reason for us to fear anything.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was President of the United States at the height of the Depression and it seemed that the end was not in sight. In his inaugural address he stated something that was quite profound.
FDR said, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
People did not have jobs and the fear that the Depression was never going to end was high. The country did not have much hope. But FDR let the country know that they could not allow the fear of the future to stop them from taking chances to better their lives and the country.
The awesome thing about this quote and other parts of FDR’s speech is that they are principals that are grounded in the Bible and truths that will stand forever.
It is a natural thing to feel fear when we are responsible or put in a position to lead people. Joshua was a man in the Bible who experienced this many times throughout his life, but God told him how to deal with fear.
Joshua was the protege of Moses, who was a man that was greatly respected by the children of Israel because of all the things God did through him. But when Moses died, Joshua was chosen to be the next leader of Israel.
In the Book of Joshua, God tells Joshua “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever thou goest.”
This is powerful because when God commands our steps, we have assurance that God is going to be with us no matter what happens, and we can know that everything is going to be okay.
Yes, we will experience fear and we will go through trials in our lives but they do not have to stop us from doing what God is commanding us to do. We must be strong and of good courage because when we do that, we are allowing God to move in our lives instead of fearing a move forward in our walk with Jesus.
But Joshua was not the only one to experience fear —- the disciples that followed Jesus also experienced fear.
In the book of Mark in the Bible Jesus and the disciples were out in the middle of the sea on a boat (4:35). Jesus was sleeping in the boat and a great storm arose and scared the disciples.
It was natural to feel scared but they were with Jesus —- God —- and they were scared of a storm! It is funny how our flesh reacts in times of trouble, but the disciples did do one thing right. They went right to Jesus.
The disciples went to the back of the boat and woke up Jesus.
When Jesus saw this He arose, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace be still.” The wind stopped and the sea was still.
In our lives, life can be like the storm and the sea and it gets scary. Situations arise in our lives that we know that we cannot deal with in our own power. We need someone to come and calm the storms in our lives.
Jesus is the one who can come into our lives and calm the storms of life. We need to learn to run to Jesus and not from Him in times of trouble and fear. No matter what happens in life, if there is breath in our lungs we can still cry out to Jesus and He will calm the storms in our lives.
Fear can cripple people, but when we are walking with Jesus there is no need to be scared of the storms of life.
I pray that you will open your heart today, cry out to Jesus and allow Him to calm the storms in your life.
You can contact Brad at [email protected].