From Fear to Peace
Friends of ours were sitting quietly in their den during a very severe storm a few weeks ago. Suddenly there was a knock at their door. Having a good idea of who it might be, they called out, “Come in!” However, when the door opened, two surprised couples looked at each other: the couple in their own den and the dripping wet young couple who came inside.
The young woman realized that she had sought safety, not at the home of her friend who lived on that street, but in the home of our friends — the next door neighbors of her friend. The young woman called her friend, but she wasn’t home; so our friends welcomed the strangers in and heard their story.
The young couple had been out grocery shopping. The storm hit just as they were getting into their car in the parking lot. After that, they had a harrowing experience trying to get home in the storm. Winds were so fast that their car was almost lifted from the street. In desperation they sought refuge at the home of a friend of the young woman, but had missed the correct house by one. Of course, this turned out to be a blessing, since they would have not found anyone at home there.
The young woman was terribly frightened. Our friends treated the couple with hospitality, playing games with them until the storm grew calm.
Sometimes fear comes upon people suddenly. Sometimes it becomes a way of life. Sometimes it is passed on from generation to generation. Of course, we understand and sympathize with people caught in a storm and we also sympathize with people for whom fear is a way of life.
Fear is an especially common emotion among mamas, and perhaps even more so among mamas who homeschool.
God has a lot to say about fear, and, as is true with all that concerns us, He has answers.
“Do not fear . . . ” said God to Abram (who later became Abraham) in Genesis 15:1, “I am a shield to you.”
“Do not fear,” said God to Abraham’s son Isaac in Genesis 26:24, “for I am with you.”
“Do not fear,” said Moses to the Israelites in Exodus 14:13 while the Egyptian army was marching toward them and they were camped by the Red Sea. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which he will accomplish for you today . . .”
“Do not fear,” said the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 8:1, as he prepared to lead the Israelite army into battle.
In Isaiah God had many reassuring things to say to the Israelites about fear.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
“Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
A people in whose heart is My law;
Do not fear the reproach of man,
Nor be dismayed at their revilings.
Isaiah 51:7
When Jesus came, he continued His Father’s assurances by encouraging His disciples again and again not to be afraid. During His last session of teaching before going to the cross, He spoke to His disciples about fear and its opposite: peace. There is only one solution for fear and that is faith, faith in the One Who has every fear covered.
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled,
nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27
With all the turmoil in the world, this article is very timely. Thank you for the reminder that God has repeatedly told us not to fear. Sometimes I forget that He has said so!