Be Not Afraid

Sometimes we suffer because we are afraid. We fear that we aren’t good enough, smart enough, or beautiful enough. We fear that we won’t do well enough, that people won’t like us, that we will die a painful death, or that someone we love will leave us.We fear that God may have forgotten us and that no one cares about us.

Many times the Savior asked us to cast away our fears and to trust in Him. When Jesus travelled to the home of Jarius, the ruler of a synagogue, who had asked Jesus to heal his dying daughter, Jarius told the Savior that his daughter has recently died. Jesus told Jarius, “Be not afraid, only believe.” Then, Jesus asked all the unbelieving people to leave the home and took the girls’ hand and said simple, “Little girl, I say to you get up!” And the 12-year old girl did just that.

We can literally destroy the monster of fear when we trust in the Savior’s promise, “Be not afraid, only believe.” We can conquer addictions, overcome self-defeating behaviors, and eliminate constant worry and anxiety in our lives when we trust completely that God loves us and cares for us.

God wants to take our fears away from us. He wants us to experience peace. He wants us to remember:

• Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

• The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

• Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

• For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

• There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

So how do we move past our fears so that we can find peace?

• We remember that Jesus already suffered everything that we will ever suffer. He knows exactly how we feel, so we can trust that He alone understanding our pain perfectly.

• We give our fears to Him and let Him carry them for us.

• We trust that He is always with us, loving us, caring for us, even when we may not feel His presence.

• Since we know God never lies, we believe his promise, “I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.”

When fear assaults us, we can release that burden to a Higher Power, remembering that God waits to lift it from us. God has amazing plans for our lives. As we cast our worries, cares, fears, and anxieties upon Him, He will sustain us. The prayer of surrender is a a powerful thing. As we give our lives to God, He makes of them more than we could ever image. As we love the Lord with all of our hearts, souls, and might, we discover that we have nothing to fear, for God is with us.

© Carol Brown