When I was nine-years-old, I experienced a major upheaval in my life. Fear became my constant companion; it stalked me like a lion, in the dark hours of the night. It would grab me by the throat and refuse to let go. It was paralyzing, terrifying fear.
I would lie in my bed, saying this verse over and over and over, hoping these words would magically remove the fear in my heart. But even though I quoted it endlessly, it never quite seemed to work. My fear remained just as palpable, just as tangible as always.
I thought saying these words was the magic code to release the power of fear in my life. If I said them in just the right way, with just the right inflection, at just the right time, my fear would magically disappear.
But I was missing something. I wasn't choosing to trust. I needed to replace my fear with trust. I needed to believe it, act on it, and live it. It wasn't enough to just cross my fingers, say the magic words, and hope it would go away.
God's words are more powerful than magic. His Word is truth that has the power to change us!
Choosing to trust in the face of overwhelming fear is not for the faint of heart. It doesn't come easy, but it will set us free! So instead of giving in to its power, let your fear remind you to trust.
Heavenly Father, there is so much in this world that brings fear. And it's easy to let it overwhelm and paralyze us. Teach us to place our trust in you, our Mighty Savior, our Protector and Provider. Amen.
Throughout this Day: It's hard to trust a God you don't know. Spend some time reflecting on these passages of Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17, John 3:16, and Ephesians 3:14-19. What do you learn about God from them?
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Photo Credit: Seyed Arshia Nezamodiny