Our
granddaughter Joy has been staying with us this week so she could attend
Vacation Bible School with me. It’s always fun to have her around. She brings
joy and laughter each time she comes.
One
of her favorite things to do is play games on our WII. She plays a game that
her uncle Philip played when he was her age. Zelda[i].
At
one point in the game, it takes the player to a darker realm, where evil forces
have subjected the kingdom to darkness and surrender.
The
princess is held captive and it is up to the young hero to save her and the kingdom.
To encourage him, the princess says, “Fear is a nameless evil.”[ii]
That
phrase caught my attention. I think there is some truth to it. If we allow fear
to go unchecked or won’t talk about what we are fearful of, it can become a
dark place in our lives.
So
what does the Bible say about fear? Paul encounters a time when he stated, “For when we came into Macedonia, this body
of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the
outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the
coming of Titus.” (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 – NIV)
There
will be times in our lives when conflict will hit us from the outside and fear
will well up within, but when we remember that God comforts the downcast, we
are able to move past the fear.
In
Psalm 34:4 (NIV), David shares how he dealt with fear. “I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my
fears.” We must ask God for help with fear. When we ask, He will answer.
And
Proverbs 14:26 (NIV) tells us “He who
fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”
We have a secure fortress in our God, therefore we don’t have any reason to
fear anything.
Psalm
27:1 (NIV) speaks of this idea as well. “The
Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold
of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” There is nothing for us to fear with
God on our side!
And
finally, 1 John 4:18 (NIV) says, “There
is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do
with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” According
to this verse, love casts out and overshadows fear. If we fear, we cannot be
secure in our salvation.
The
princess and her hero will overcome this darkness. There will be no reason for
fear. I know this because I know how the game ends.
You
and I will also overcome the darkness of this world. Fear will be banished. I know
this because I know that Jesus is victorious. And because He is victorious, we
are too!
Grace
and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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