No Fear

It is a scary world.

IED’s in Afghanistan.

Chemical weapons in Syria.

The growing threat of nuclear attack from North Korea.

And the violence is not just “over there.” Disturbed people with access to assault weapons make the places we go every day the scene of death and carnage. Radicals with an agenda mail letters laced with poison to elected leaders. People desperate for money—to support their addiction or pay their rent or buy the latest pair of Nikes—rob and steal from those who seem vulnerable. Someone you live with gets mean when they have had too much to drink.

Even if you are tucked safely into your home in a gated community with all the doors locked and the alarm system armed; you may find yourself lying awake on your pillow-top mattress worried about your balance at the brokerage. Will the Euro-zone collapse? How long can our country sustain its pattern of deficit spending? Are we headed for another “Great Depression?” Can I count on my job being there tomorrow? Next week? Next year?

What are you afraid of?

Loud noises? Dark rooms? Big dogs?

Roaches? Spiders? Snakes?

Running off the side of the road? Running out of time to complete an assignment? Running out of ketchup?

It is a scary world! Especially if you believe you have to face all the threats (perceived or ignored, imagined or real) on your own. There is no way anyone can protect themselves from every danger that puts them at risk. And a new menace seems to arise just when you think you have them all managed.

Here’s the good news: Jesus promises peace to those who love him and live their lives according to his plan. “And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).

Remember that the next time some strange noise wakes you up in the middle of the night.