Worry and fear are two very common human experiences and emotions. However, these are two common human emotions that God calls us not to live in. Instead we are called to not worry, not to fear. Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
When I am struggling with worry and fear (which is more often than I would like) my focus often times is on me and the circumstances I find myself in. Most often the thing that I am fearing or worrying about I have zero control over so the more I focus on myself (who can do nothing) in the midst of these difficult circumstances, the more fear and worry increase because the larger the circumstances appear against my helplessness and inability to do anything. Which is why in times of fear or worry I regularly need to turn my focus off myself and onto God. This morning I was reading in Isaiah 52 which is written to tell the Israelites that God is going to be redeeming them and they will be getting set free from their captivity in Babylon. I was struck by verse 11, "For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard." What a great picture to combat fear with... God is going to go before you, He is going to lead the way, He is going to give direction, and whatever you are going to face He will be there before you ever get there. Oh, and he is also your rear guard, so those things that seem to creep up out of nowhere... Yeah, he was there before they snuck up behind you! I read this and thought to myself, "God's got this!" I don't know what your fears and worries are today but I want to say with you "God's got this!" That does not mean it will be easy, that does not mean it won't be deeply painful, or difficult. It does however mean that each step of the way God is there. It does mean that you are not alone.
So what do we do when fear and worry come raging into our lives? We strive to turn our attention to God. The creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, the all powerful, all knowing, all present, good, loving, patient, kind, God of the Scriptures who says to us I will go before you and I will be your rear guard. Who says to us nothing can separate you from my love (Romans 8). Who says to us I love you (John 3:16). Who says to us come to me when you worry with prayers and supplications with thanksgiving and I will give you a peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4).
