In myself I’ve failed the Lord
Then was afraid to try once more
That fire in my soul had fled
That’s when Jesus came and said
My spirit gives the strength you need
To raise you up and to succeed
And for vision in the night
To you, I’ll give these words of light
Fear not, my child
I’m with you always
I feel every pain
And every tear I see
Fear not, my child
I’m going to be with you always
I know how to take care of
What belongs to me
He said, My child, don’t look behind
Discouragement is all you’ll find
Don’t watch the waves that roll the sea
But just focus your eyes on Me
And I will make you strong and then
Your shattered courage I will mend
And if you fall and should get hurt
Remember these eternal words
written by Carman Licciardello with Kim Boyce
But we DO have God’s promises…so knowing the Truth, and acting on it, is critical to dealing with our fears and worries. And we DO know where to find the Truth—in the Bible. Below are just a very few…oh, there are SO many…Scriptures to hold in our minds and our hearts. Perhaps you could write them out on index cards and keep them where you can find them easily—in your Bible, or on your desk, perhaps tacked up where you can see them easily. The point is to be reminded and to be encouraged and to ‘fear not.’
Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone.
Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.
Deuteronomy 13:4
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
and He delivers them.
Psalm 34:7
So don’t be afraid;
you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:31
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27
This is My command—be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Psalm 56:3
In God, whose Word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:4
He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Psalms 91:4-8
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
Psalm 112:7
David, who God called ‘a man after My own heart,’ dealt with much temptation to fear throughout his life. But David was sure that his LORD was always with him, even when he was (actually) alone. Listen to his confession of trust and confidence in his Lord:
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation—whom shall I fear or dread?
The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident.
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me;
in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord;
be brave and of good courage
and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.Excerpts from Psalm 27
May we each also confess, as David did, that ‘the Lord IS my Light and my Salvation…the Refuge and Stronghold of my life’. May we also be assured that ‘my heart shall NOT fear…and in this will I be confident’. May we ‘offer sacrifices and shouting of joy…and sing praises to the Lord’. I pray for each of you that you, too, will ‘wait and hope for and expect the Lord; that you will be brave and of good courage…and that your heart will be enduring’.
And that you will know that this is God’s heart toward you…
Fear not, my child
I’m going to be with you always
I know how to take care of
What belongs to me
“What, what would have become of me] had I not believed
that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!
Wait and hope for and expect the Lord;
be brave and of good courage
and let your heart be stout and enduring.
Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”
Amen! <3
Amen Coleen! As we hid that Word in our heart and then proclaim it over our situations, strength will rise up in us! Swords UP!