Be Not Afraid!!
By: Maxine M


Do you worry and fret...toss and turn all night upon your bed?
Frightened by dreams, scenes of disaster running through your head?
Thoughts of, how will I pay my bills...how will I ever get ahead?

Stock Market fell today and what will become of Grandma who just broke her hip?
Will my spouse be safe on his impending business trip?
Does concern for your children have you in fear's deadly grip?

Fear--defined as anticipation of danger, a deep feeling of dread
Perhaps the result of reality, or just an ominous emotion instead
Fear can be disabling...basis of many illnesses, Doctors have said

Fear of the future, fear of the unknown, WHAT lies behind "tomorrow's" door
How long before terrorists come again to America's shore
Fire, earthquakes, tornados, floods...what does nature have in store

For fear of embarrassment & ridicule, many great ideas have withered on the vine
Potentially good marriages don't last when fear of commitment & mistrust combine
Or troubled relationships form when fear & pain of being alone intertwine

Even Job said, "The thing I greatly feared has come upon me"
Through financial losses & loss of his children, he praised God on bended knee
But through the loss of health, doubt would come, his friends would see

But he retained faith in GOD's goodness, by perseverance, he'd learn
That "This too will pass" & God IS present in the fearful things we discern
And Once it's over...FREEDOM from it's fear, we can earn

So, what do YOU fear? What strikes terror, if THIS, you were asked to face?
Loss of your home? Now so lovely with new windows...fancy curtains and lace
You worked so hard for it, you're sure another could never replace

Loss of your spouse?...the one you've built your life around
How would you manage?...without their voice's reasurring sound
Does the thought of YOUR own mortality make your heart wildly pound?

What would you do in a financial crisis?...if all income were lost today
Are you anxious about what the DA's report will have to say?
How many more will be killed in the war? Is more trouble on the way?

Job loss, job relocation, being disabled, dependent on those you hold dear
Speaking in public, meeting new people, trouble from the past that may reappear
Memory loss, uncontrolable pain...what IS YOUR most overwhelming fear?

For you see, the thing we fear, we haven't given to God in trust
We try to depend on ourselves, forgetting we were created from dust
So BE WISE!!, rely totally on the one who is merciful and just!

Because "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom", the sweet psalmist said
Not terror & trembling fear, but extreme REVERENCE for His AWESOME POWER instead
And the knowledge that, at His spoken Word, His crucified Son rose from the dead

The Bible tells us, fear only the one who will one day Judge us all
And the fate of that Judgement is determined by whether or not we accept salvation's call
Because in ACCEPTING...fear is vanquished, peace is installed

Please, cling to Christ's loving, gentle, encouraging words of "BE NOT AFRAID"
"Fear Not, I am with you"...fear, for certainty, you can then trade
Protected by the "shield of faith"...THAT fear cannot invade

So bring ALL fears, SURRENDER THEM!! Lay them at the Father's feet
The faults, failures and mistakes we often commit because of fear...we won't so easily repeat
Be confident the fearful "Battle of Good vs. Evil", will end in Satan's defeat!