In the Face of Fear and Worry

Fear and worry can come suddenly. A heart that felt fine yesterday can feel crushed today. At times it seems as if we cannot see what lies ahead, and we feel at a loss about what to do.

Joshua also stood in such a place. Moses had died. Israel had lost its leader. The land of Canaan was right before them, but the path was not easy. Fear must have risen in Joshua’s heart. “Can I really carry this?” “How can I lead these people?” “What will happen next?” Worry must have pressed heavily on him.

Then God spoke to Joshua: “I will be with you.” “Be strong and courageous.” God did not first demand courage from him. He first promised His presence. And on the foundation of that promise, He told him to be strong and courageous.

Our fear often grows from the thought, “I am alone.” The more we feel we must carry the responsibility by ourselves, the more our hearts collapse. But God says, “I will not leave you.” “I will not forsake you.” God is not One who watches from far away. He is the One who is with us in the midst of our journey.

God also tells us to hold on to His Word. He calls us to keep His Word in our hearts and follow it in our lives. For the greater our fear, the more our hearts are shaken, and the greater our worries, the more our thinking becomes clouded. In such moments, what holds us fast is the Word of God. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

The reason we can be strong and courageous is clear. It is because God is with us. He is our refuge, our fortress, our hope, and our strength. So if today we are standing in the face of fear and worry, let us hold again to the promise that steadies our hearts. Let us look not to our circumstances, but to God. The truth that the Lord is with us lifts us up again.

Pastor Paul

Joshua 1:1-9