Fear Not

By Greg Quinn

June 20th, 2019

We are all afraid at times. Sometimes more than others. It is a natural occurrence of being human. 

I remember when we were kids. We would get home from school on the big yellow school bus on Cumberland Heights Road in Clarksville Tennessee and rush into the house to get ready to watch "The Big Show" at 4 o'clock. Almost every day, "The Big Show" featured old horror movies. Of course this was the late 60s and early 70s so horror movies were not like they are today (today's horror movies are mostly just disgusting instead of scary). Movies like "The Creature From the Black Lagoon", "Frankenstein", "Dracula", "The Deadly Bees", "It", "Phantom of the Opra", "Night of the Living Dead", "The Abominable Dr. Phibes", "House of Wax", "The Blob", "The Mummy", and so many others. These were good, entertaining, and scary. My little brother Boge loved these horror movies but couldn't stand it. He would run and hide behind Dad's big green recliner and peek out from time to time. He was SO scared. We laugh about this even today and he's in his 50s. 

But this manufactured fear to make a dollar is not the same as real fear. I don't think any of us (except kids) believe that there is a monster under the bed or that Tarantula is really in the garden or Dracula will appear in their window at night. Real fear is part of life on earth. It's fear of being able to pay the electric bill, fear of flying, fear of being humiliated, fear of public speaking, fear of heights, fear of water, fear of being alone, fear of being sick, fear of cancer, fear of being shot, fear of road rage, fear of terrorists, and so on. Fear on every corner. The TV news dispels fear each evening before bedtime, so how can we sleep well?

Whereas it may be a natural occurrence in this world to be afraid, it is not God's plan. 

God doesn't want you to have fear. God wants you to have faith. It is God's plan that you not be afraid, that you trust God, the Creator of the world, your Creator, the One who loved you so much that he sacrificed the life of his son Jesus, to save you from all fears. 

The King James Version of the Holy Bible says "Fear not" or "Be not afraid" 103 times. Writer Lloyd Ogilvie said in "Facing the Future without Fear" that there are 366 "Fear nots" in the Bible, one for every day of the year including Leap Year, referencing other related texts. Imagine this. God tells you every day of the year not to fear.

Yet we still do.

Psalm 27:1 King James Version (KJV)
        27 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

If God takes care of everything in our lives, why do we fear? If God loves us so much that he died for us, why are we afraid? If God promises to take care of us much more than he does the flowers of the field or the birds in the air, why do we doubt and worry?

If we put our trust in God, then fear goes away. If we don't fear, we don't worry. Faith is the opposite of worry and fear. Fear causes worry and worry causes tension. If you didn't fear today or tomorrow, or what might happen or not happen, what would you have to worry about? Since faith is your reaction to God's ability, and God is the only one who has the ability to solve your problems, doesn't it make sense to "Fear not" and let God remove your fears and worries from your life through your faith in him.

Today I challenge you to set aside your fear through increased faith in the God who loves you. How do I do that, you might ask? Pick up your Bible and read about God's love for you. Anywhere in the Bible you can see God's divine plan to take care of us, His children. If you are new to reading the Bible, flip over to the New Testament and read the story of Jesus from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Or go back to the Psalms which are written to teach us how to live a better life. All of this is easy reading and will give you great options beyond fear. Faith through love of God and by God and through God will dispel all your fears, and you can enjoy a life of peace.

Living without fear is possible. Living without worry can be done. It's actually a choice. Do you listen to the perils of this world and things you cannot control? Do you live your life based upon the 10 o'clock news? Or do you put your trust in God who will always come through for you and be on your side, in good times and in bad, and relieve you of fear and worry if you will let him.

Turn off "The Big Show"! Be fearless! Fear not! You can do it.

Greg Quinn