There seem to be so many things of which we are fearful. If we have a job, we are fearful of losing it. If we have lost a job, we are often fearful of not finding another one. We are fearful of the strain that our marriage may be under, or of the problems we may be having with our children. It seems to be never ending. There are at least 244 times that the word fear is used in the Bible, not counting the times other words are used such as dismay, anxiety, or alarm.
Look at this verse. There are three promises from God that can be a help during those times that we may be afraid. The first is "I am with you." This is a promise of His presence. God reveals His presence to us in many ways. It can be through the power of His Word, the closeness of a friend, through prayer, or through worship. Sometimes it may even be in a dramatic way.
I went on a mission trip to the Crimea, in the Ukraine, about three years ago. While there, our group visited a military base where we presented a concert and gave Bibles to the soldiers and officers. I was standing in the middle of a crowd of soldiers that began to rush to receive the Bibles. This was causing me to lose my balance and I was afraid that I was about to fall. Suddenly a very tall officer stretched out his arms to hold back the soldiers and give me room to move and breathe. The fear and panic left and I was able to continue giving out the Bibles. Later I was relating this experience to my pastor and he commented that he had been watching me and did not see the officer holding back the crowd. God's presence was so real to me in this experience. Was it the physical presence of an angel or simply a very caring officer? I don't know, but God was with me, caring for me and protecting me.
There have been other times that I have known He was with me. Recently I was very nervous about singing at our church and the words of 2 Timothy 1:7 ran through my mind, "God does not give us a spirit of fear." He was there enabling me to sing without being fearful. God was letting me know that when I step out to do something that will bring Him glory, He will be with me.
Paul tells us of the night the Lord spoke to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you." (Acts 18:9-10) Remember a time in the past that God was with you, whether in worship, in prayer, or maybe in a more real and physical way. Think about it and claim it as a promise, that He will be with you in whatever situation you are facing.
Join me tomorrow to look at the second promise contained in this verse, "I am your God."