We are not alone in our fears. God knows and understands what we are going through. Photo by Isaac Davis on Unsplash.
During the age of the Divided Kingdom in 930 – 586 BC, the Northern Kingdom, Israel, joined forces with Syria to fight the Southern Kingdom, Judah.
The shifting geopolitical alliances brought much uncertainty and fear to King Ahaz and the nation of Judah and they “trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm”. (Isaiah 7:2 NLT)
Many of us experience uncertainty and fear in our lives. As parents, we fear our children making poor choices. Some of us are fearful about losing our aged parents and loved ones to life-limiting illnesses, while others are afraid of losing their jobs or businesses during challenging economic times. These fears keep us awake at night.
Like King Ahaz, we can draw comfort from Isaiah’s words and move from fear to faith.
The Lord spoke to King Ahaz of Judah through the prophet Isaiah, “Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smouldering stubs of firewood.’” (Isaiah 7:3-4 NIV).
Like King Ahaz, we can draw comfort from Isaiah’s words and move from fear to faith.
What can we do in the face of fear?
1. Keep calm
Amid tumultuous circumstances, we can keep calm and not act rashly. We need a clear and steadfast mind to work through our fears.
As we take time to pray and seek God’s perspective, we recall His promise of peace to us: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT)
2. Remember His promises
We are not alone in our fears. God knows and understands what we are going through. We find assurance in His promise to be with us and protect us no matter how daunting our situations are.
It is easy to become faint-hearted when we are overwhelmed by fear.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)
3. Do not lose hope
It is easy to become faint-hearted when we are overwhelmed by fear. When all hope is lost, we lose heart. In such moments, cling on with hope to the unshakeable, unchangeable and unstoppable Christ Jesus and the promises in God’s Word. “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:19 NLT)
When we find ourselves overwhelmed, we must “be careful” to pay attention and listen to God’s Word.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT): “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
As we hold fast to His promises and the hope we have in Christ, may we live, not in fear, but by faith and trusting in our God.
This was written for and first published on Cru Singapore. It is republished with permission.
Reflection and Discussion
- In your situation that you are fearful and uncertain of, what could a response of faith look like?
- Which verse speaks comfort to you in this short devotional? Or is there a promise God has given you recently that you can draw comfort from?
- Who do you know is facing a scary and anxious situation in their lives now? Spend a few minutes to pray for them and consider how you might be a source of encouragement to them this week.
We are an independent, non-profit organisation that relies on the generosity of our readers, such as yourself, to continue serving the kingdom. Every dollar donated goes directly back into our editorial coverage.
Would you consider partnering with us in our kingdom work by supporting us financially, either as a one-off donation, or a recurring pledge?
Support Salt&Light
