“FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU”

The essence of this familiar refrain appears over thirty times in scripture, often in the Imperative Indicative: Fear Not... the command, For I Am With You... the statement of fact. There are many things we might be tempted to fear in this life, especially when adversity finds our address: Sickness and disease, pain and suffering, financial ruin, slander, loss of power or position, rejection, loss of relationships, loneliness, persecution, death, the unknown, in a nutshell fear of people, circumstances or the powers of darkness. To all of this our Father says “Fear not, for I Am with you.” The great “I Am” is with us. We are in Christ... baptized into His body by The Holy Spirit, and He is in us, and He is in God so... we are likewise in God. Christ is the vine and we are the branches, under the tender care of the Father: This “oneness” we have with the Godhead defies human understanding... but it is true none the less. God says “I will never leave you nor forsake you ... So we may boldly say ... I will not fear.” This is the great lesson taught by adversity which demands a response, either fear of the “Thing” or trust in the God who is sovereign over all “Things”... and ever present with us. Fear and Trust are diametrically opposed and cannot co-exist... so we must choose. God’s presence is the only antidote for fear. Trusting in God’s abiding presence during difficult circumstances will drive away all fear. When we fearlessly trust God... disregarding any desired outcome... with no strings attached, satan is totally defeated... period. By replacing our innate desire to know Why with an understanding of Who... Who is with us, we can level the battlefield of the mind, and walk in His peace during any storm of life... never seeing the waves... basking in His presence. So... Fear not, for I Am with you... I will never leave you nor forsake you... never... ever!

NEVER ALONE!