Do Not Fear!

Fear must be one of the main contributors to us being unable to enjoy and know for ourselves freedom in Christ and to experience God’s love in all its fullness. Fear is not of God as perfect love casts out fear.

There are so many unknown and known quantities in losing a baby that may cause fear – the fear of death itself, the physical trauma of miscarriage, the knowledge that your baby will die after birth, the knowledge that your baby has died before birth and you must now give birth, hospital appointments, scans, tests, results, waiting, friends, family, words spoken, words not spoken, emotions that you don’t want to experience again, tomorrow! These are the tip of an iceberg of associated fears. Being made unique, different people will have different fears but the similarity is that they steal our assurance and our peace in Christ.

It may be that people are not aware that they are living in daily fear and that the process of not trusting God with specific events has been slowly and gradually erosive. Or it may be that people no longer believe that God is in control, or that He loves them. Or perhaps we have lost a sense of God’s presence and so fear sets in and the vale of darkness enshrouds the mind.

It seems so simple and trite for us to be told not to fear. Yet in the simplicity of this biblical command, with God’s grace, we can choose to lift our gaze from our immediate pain to Christ who is with us and shall never leave us.

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Isaiah 43:1-2 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Timothy 1:7  For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Hebrews 13:5-6 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Unless otherwise indicated all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.