Part 10: God is God
In this in depth study we have looked at many reasons not to fear and we have looked at six antidotes to fear. Part of not having fear is believing that God is God. “Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’” Is. 44:8 “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in an vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” Genesis 15:1
Do you believe that God is God? That He is in control?
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Ps 46:10
Part 11: Do What He Tells You to Do — Without Fear
When my children were small and learning to do new things often they were afraid. Walking. Jumping into the pool. All these things were difficult and scary at times. As a parent what do we do when our children cannot do something on their own?
Many times in the Bible God asked people to take some action in the face of much fear and what seemed an impossible situation.
- So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. Genesis 46:3
- Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’ Deuteronomy 1:21
- And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it;do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 28:20
- And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:15
- But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20
- But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:19
- But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11
- Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; Acts 18:9
It seems to me over and over that God seems to be telling me the same type of thing: Do what I tell you to do, don’t ask questions, go forward in faith! I have a plan. Just trust me.
Now I’m sorry, but for most of us, that is a pretty scary concept! I want to know what the plan is before I just jump into the deep end. It takes a special high level “no fear” attitude to just do it. But with God all things are possible, right?
Back to my question. As a parent what do we do when our children cannot do something on their own? We help them. Take their hand. We do not expect them to independently take the very first step they have ever taken. God is not asking us to do that either. He wants to hold our hand while we take the step of trusting Him. Isn’t this comforting? We do not have to do it alone!
