FEAR NOT!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

A month or two ago, I was sitting at my doctor’s office, waiting to get my Ampligen infusion.  A nurse came rushing in and stated that my liver enzymes were six times higher than normal, and they would have to redraw my blood that day.  I would not be getting infused until my liver enzymes were closer to normal.

What does this mean?  Will my liver stop functioning?  Am I getting liver disease?  Thoughts like these began to run through my head.  My liver enzymes had never been that high before, and it alarmed me.  My first reaction was to be fearful, and dwell on anxious thoughts.  So instead of continuing to let fearful thoughts consume my mind, I quickly prayed, “Lord, You say in Your Word not to fear.  I am trusting in You to work out this situation and bring my enzymes down so that I can get my next infusion.  You know I need the Ampligen to make me better, and I’m trusting in You to provide”  (Philippians 4:19).

God did provide.  Two days later, my liver enzymes were half of what they were before.  I was able to get my next infusion.  The cause?  The week before, I had taken some pain medicine for a severe toothache that had codeine in it, and the codeine had affected my liver. 

There are many examples in Scripture of people who were fearful.  One who comes to mind is Gideon.  When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in person (Judges 6:12-23) and told him that he could defeat the Midianites as one man with God’s help, Gideon was very fearful.  He asked the Angel for a sign, and then went by night to destroy the Altar of Baal (v. 27).  David was fearful many times as he ran for his life from King Saul (I Samuel 18:10-11). 

It’s part of our sin nature to be fearful.  The important thing is what we do with our fear.  Do we dwell on it or turn it over to God?  The next time you are tempted to fear, take a moment to stop and pray.  Memorize Isaiah 41:10.  Remember that God is big enough to handle any problem, and He will not fail you!

Dear Father, when we think about how great You are, how could we ever be fearful?  And yet, we get anxious about so many things.  Teach us to rest in You, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.