" The Great Danger of Living in Fear "

Psalm 37:1-9  "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and HE shall give thee the desires of thine heart.Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in HIM; and HE shall bring it to pass. 

And HE shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for HIM: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."

     Fear is being marketed all around us, and many buy into it. When I was in school, we were told that a glacier age loomed before us. Now, my grandchildren live under the cloud of all the glaciers melting, causing the oceans to rise and cover major cities. Global pandemic is the new vocabulary word that is unleashing a new wave of fear. My purpose in addressing this fear is not to minimize the dangers of the current health crisis nor to argue for or against social distancing but to exhort believers to refrain from living in fear. The Bible warns of the dangers of fear, for fear itself can become a greater enemy, a heavy taskmaster and do more damage than the actual object of the fear. The Bible warns, "Be not afraid of sudden fear" (Proverbs 3:25). Living under the shadow of the fear that something bad is going to happen not only robs us of peace and joy, but it causes us to be very vulnerable to making unwise decisions. Those people capitalizing on our worries and selling fear can easily lead us into unforeseen dangers.

     The twenty-third psalm puts fear in its proper context: "I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me" (Psalm 23:4). The psalmist declares, "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our GOD, in the mountain of HIS Holiness . . . GOD is known in her palaces for a refuge" (Psalm 48:1,3). The Christian needs to replace the great danger of living in fear with the unchangeable and comforting truths of GOD's WORD that we find in today's text: "Fret not: (v.1); "Trust in the LORD"(V.3); "Delight thyself also in the LORD" (V.4); "Commit thy way unto the LORD" (V.5); "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for HIM" (v.7). Focus on your FATHER in Heaven, not on life's fears. JMC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used  with  permission.  www.featoday.org