FAITH over FEAR

These times are indeed crazy times.

The world is being shut down in unprecedented ways.  Life as we know it has changed radically.  No one knows what the "new normal" is going to look like once we emerge from this fog, or how long it will take.  In times like these, it's comforting to know that the same God who created us, who loves us, who has redeemed us, and who has given us a hope and future through Jesus Christ... that same God also sustains us during our darkest days.

The prophet Isaiah spoke about this type of sustenance:

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)  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.

Did you know that "Fear Not" is the Bible's most often repeated command?

We often sing Christian songs about praising God through the storm.  Well my friends, we're smack-dab in the middle of the biggest storm of the century.  Our perfect, loving, benevolent God hasn't changed... and neither do His promises for His people.  Now is the time to draw even nearer to the God who desires for us to be close to Him.  Now is the time to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), trusting in Him alone.  We can't see what's ahead, and we don't need to.  We only need to hold the hand of God Almighty, who is always in control.  Once we come to a place of faith in the God who has promised always to be with us, fear no longer has jurisdiction in our lives.

Faith over fear.  It's easy to say, but it can be hard to put into practice.  But once you know God intimately, once you've watched Him work mighty wonders in your life, once you've seen Him create a way when there was no way... you begin to build trust in Him.  There's a song I heard years ago that fits perfectly:

     God is too wise to be mistaken
     God is too good to be unkind
     So when you don't understand
     When don't see His plan
     When you can't trace His hand
     Trust His Heart!

That's where my trust is.  Faith over Fear becomes easy once you walk alongside Jesus.  And before you know it, you'll have so much faith that fear will completely give up trying.  And that, my friends, is a good place to be.

I love you all!  God bless you during these tough times.

-- Pastor Matt :0)