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Fear?


When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4)
 
            Remember the three men thrown in the fiery furnace? The ones who told the king that whether God rescued them or not, they would not bow down to the king's golden image? They answered the psalmist's question. What can mortal man do to me? An friend of mine who is an atheist once asked me if he gave me poison to drink, I'd drink it. I told him that if he had the authority to require it of me, I would. I think my answer surprised him. Mortal man can do unthinkable things to our bodies, it's true. What is also true is that if they don't kill me, God is with me. If they do kill me, I am with God.  
            Don't tell me how courageous I am, or how strong or faithful.... I am often very afraid. What this passage tells us, though, is that there's nothing wrong with feeling afraid. Courage is impossible without fear. The important thing to remember is that fear is an opportunity to trust God, to hold on tight to His promises and see Him work in your life. Our response to fear should be praise.
       I'm reminded of King Hezekiah in II Kings 19:14ff. He received a letter from his enemy, demanding his surrender and assuring Hezekiah and everyone else that no god had ever protected anyone from the Assyrians. Hezekiah spread the letter out before God and said, "Here's what they're saying...." That time, God intervened and saved the Israelites. Another time, with a different king, God said, "Go into exile and live among them." Both times, God was with them.
          It's been said that fear and faith cannot coexist. Feeling fear is natural and even healthy. Living in fear, under its control, is optional. God doesn't recommend it. His solution is to trust Him and to praise Him.

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