‘Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord ; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let the whole world fear the Lord , and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord ’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord , whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the Lord . He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord , for our hope is in you alone.’ Psalms 33:1-22(NLT)
‘What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin#10:29 Greek one assarion [i.e., one “as,” a Roman coin equal to 116 of a denarius].? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.’ Matthew 10:29-31(NLT)
‘So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.’ 1 Peter 5:6-7(NLT)
Trusting in the God who sees
It’s a command, and a comfort found throughout the Bible. Fear Not. These two small but powerful words seem to speak to an inclination that’s within each of us. If the call is to “fear not,” it must be because we tend toward fear. It makes sense. There are a lot of frightening things in our world. Things that deserve our legitimate attention and concern and action.
But these fears don’t deserve our devotion. Because there is a difference.
There is recognizing our fear, and then there is being devoted to our fear. Living in devotion to our fear, or being ruled by our fear, is a miserable and exhausting existence. But God speaks into that misery, and graciously says, “fear not!”
But how? How do we actually “fear not”?
“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.” (Psalm 33:20-21)
We turn our devotion toward the One who is our help and our shield. We cast our anxiety on the One who cares for us. We remember that not even the sparrows are outside of the Father’s care. Nothing happens in this world that God does not see. God sees the sparrows, and God sees you and me, and He’s not just watching from a distance. He sees. He cares. He is near. There is a lot that you and I can’t see. No matter how smart or important we think ourselves to be, what we can see of the world is just a tiny sliver that is hardly worth mentioning. None of us can see even one second into the future, and that can feel terrifying.
But there is One who sees it all. The One who created it all and sustains it all. God sees it all, and He cares for you and me. We do not have to fear the unseen, because we can trust in the God who sees.
What are you afraid of today? Maybe it’s one thing, or maybe it’s 100 things. Write them down. Which of these fears have you given your devotion to?
As you read the Scriptures that follow, be encouraged that God sees you, and He cares for you! Give Him your devotion and Fear Not!
from Fear Not