Fearless - Day 20!

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:35-36

Sometimes being fearless requires ignoring the voices around you—even the well-meaning voices of “reason.” These voices will remind you that the prognosis is bad, the marriage seems hopeless, or you don’t have nearly enough to meet the obligations. And, sadly, these voices may be accurate! But, the fact that they are accurate, based on what we see today, doesn’t mean they are right. Very simply, any voice that leads you to be afraid doesn’t see the whole picture.

That’s what belief is all about. It means trusting what Father says more than what I see. Sometimes fear does seem to be the only reasonable response…until you remember the promises of God. Faith, in Him and His word, is like a set of lenses, which allows you to see a much larger reality with an infinite number of divine possibilities.

When fear comes knocking, the first question should be, “What has God said?” Then, take Jesus’ advice: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

For Reflection: Where, in my life, have I equated fear with responsibility? What does God say about the things I fear? If I truly believed Him, how would my response change?

Lord, we live in a world full of voices; and, many of them are voices of fear. I thank You that I am never alone. You are always with me. Teach me to silence the voices of fear so I can hear You. Help me to listen for what you say and then stand firm on your promises. When you are with me, I don’t need to be afraid!