I have been meditating on fear and worry lately, while delving into Edward Welch’s book, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of rest. Why do we worry? We want control! We have this inward realization that we are in danger. Ed Welch describes worriers as visionaries minus the optimism. He points out the fact that the phrase, “Do not be afraid” is the most repeated command in the Bible! Did you know that?
“‘Do not be afraid’ are not the words of a flesh-and-blood friend, a mere human like yourself. They are not the hollow words of a fellow passenger on a sinking ship, who has no experience in shipwrecks, can’t swim, and has no plan…’Do not be afraid’ are the words of the One who can match speech with action. He is the sovereign King who really is in control. The efficacy of the words is directly related to the authority, power, and love of the One speaking them.”
Josh Harris presented an excellent sermon this week at Covenant Life on the topic of fear as well. Listen to it here.
Reading this was so encouraging. I just posted on my blog about fear getting in the way of me earning some extra money. I’m a scaredy cat, and I need to remember to heed the admonition to not fear or worry. Thanks for posting this.
No, I did not know that “Do not be afraid!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. This is encouraging and wonderful to hear. Of course I have read this sentence several times but it seems that I couldn´t internalize it… I am afraid of everything: failures in job, financial loss, diseases, accidents and so on. The daily worries can be such an absorbing thing.
Thank you, Lindsay, for posting this review! I will try to purchase it!!!
Good reminder! I’ve been wrestling with fear lately too .. is it just a woman thing or what?