Fear And Worry

“Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’ [Deuteronomy 20.8]

Are you (am I) afraid or worried? Oh wow, I think we have a lot to work on here. If we disassociated ourselves with those who are afraid or worried, we might find ourselves quite alone.

But, the fact remains that fear and worry are contagious and need to be removed from the ranks of those who would serve the LORD wholeheartedly.

This sound super harsh, doesn't it?

So, we have to ask ourselves this very important question: Are we so concerned with the emotions of fearful and worried people that we are willing to jeopardize our ability to effectively do the work (wage the war) we are called to?  This did not improve the "harsh factor" any, did it?

The fact is, God has no use for fear or worry. I mean, why should He? Fear and worry are not in any way part of God's character and, frankly, pose no threat to God whatsoever. Why? Because God is Supreme Ruler of All and, as such, necessarily fears or worries about NOTHING!

The "rubber meeting the road" as it pertains to faith is found in a person's willingness to surrender all thoughts of fear and worry in the quest of obeying God. It is a refreshing thought, but few ever really attain to the execution of it.

Bottom line: if we are to please God with "faith," we simply must remove from ourselves, and remove ourselves from, fear and worry.

Father, help me to deal with fear and worry first in myself and settle the fact that my life is Yours and therefore entirely under Your care. Then help me to know how to separate myself from decidedly fearful and worried people (people who know it is wrong, but embrace it anyway). May my life and its example beacon faith and total confidence in You.