Fear Not

A few days ago I went to a church function with my dear friend and her five children. Her youngest is five years old, and as we were standing in line to get dinner someone gave him a little bracelet making kit, you know the church kind... beads and a cross. My five year old friend quickly made the bracelet, and later in the evening he put it on my wrist. I asked him what the beads said, and he said, "Fear Not". I asked him why I didn't have to be afraid, and he pointed to the cross on the bracelet and said, "Because Jesus died and rose again, so you don't have to be afraid anymore!" TRUTH.
Jesus died and rose again, and now you don't have to be afraid. This sweet bracelet has been a reminder to me over the last week. Several days I actually wore the bracelet to work. It made for an interesting conversation starter, it seems many adults would like to be on the receiving end of this same jewelry making kit. FEAR NOT. It is a reminder we could all use.

The Bible says it like this:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:7

Many times our fear is not of evil necessarily - but instead of failure, of being alone, of not being accepted, of not ever accomplishing anything. We have many fears... yes, even believers. The Bible tells us not to, and we know the verses.... if our God is for us, who could stand against us?

Tomorrow I am doing something that has the ability to scare me. I wore that bracelet this week to remind me when I felt the tendency to let fear in, to stand firm. The cross, those words, and sweet wisdom from a five year old has kept me right where I need to be.

Has God opened a door for you that you have no confidence to walk through? Is insecurity holding you back from the ministry God is calling you to?

The LORD will be at your side and will keep you from your snare. Proverbs 3:26

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. Jer 17:7

Let His strength be what gets you through. You can trust Him. He is good, and you have nothing to fear.