I Will NOT Be Afraid

Isaiah 43:5 – “Fear not: for I am with thee”. This is the “F” verse for Abeka Christian Education curriculum. Noah’s Nook teaches using this curriculum so all 26 verses are always on our minds. One day we had a fire drill and one precious little preschooler started saying, “FEAR NOT!! For I am with thee, I will NOT be afraid!” Just imagine…a small child, in a huge building being told to quickly move down stairs and outdoors. This would give an adult some pause, much less a child. One reason I love talking to children so much is because they can quickly recall and use what they learn, and usually in context. This verse was planted in her heart and she used it when she needed it.

I am experiencing life that could easily qualify as scary. I have teenagers! I asked them what they are afraid of and I got the usual snakes, roaches, etc. But, after digging deeper I have one going to college this fall and he has been scared to death of the change. My younger child has always had a fear of fire even though he has never been directly affected by it. Are these fears rational or irrational? I assure you, that to them it is very rational. So how do you deal with fear without diminishing your very real emotion or self-esteem?

Do you believe in spiritual gifts? A spiritual gift (in basic Paige terms) is a strong belief or understanding of something that you normally wouldn’t understand as clearly. Basically, God gives each person a gift (or more) that you can learn to rely upon. One of my gifts is Faith. This automatically helps me when the subject of fear comes up. I am able to fully rely on God with the outcome. While this is very comforting to me, to those that don’t have this gift – what are they feeling? 

If you don’t know what to do, I believe that all we can do is turn to God and the Bible and we have to teach our children to do the same. There are so many questions in life and parenting, but one thing we can know is that the Bible is true and has no errors. God is incapable of making mistakes. Psalms 149:4 says “For the Lord takes delight in his people” This is true, because the Bible is true. Jeremiah 31:25 says “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” This is true, because the Bible is true. Matthew 11:28 says “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is true, because the Bible is true!

How often do we call on our Lord when we are afraid? He WANTS us to call on Him every time! I love my children and when they need something, even assurance, I jump to meet their needs. It delights me for them to come to me. If I feel that way about my children, how much more does God feel about us? Please friend, give God a chance to ease your fear; whatever it may be. There are no categories of little or big fears, and there are no categories of what God “covers”. He cares about it all. The Bible is ALL true, not just some of it. 

by Paige Phillips

Paige is a wife to Randall and mother to Aaron and Bryson, and is officially the shortest one in her family now.  But, she strives, above all else, to be an obedient follower of Christ.  I have been a Christian since the young age of 5 when I completely understood the simple fact that Jesus loves me and wants me to love Him.  I have had many ups and downs throughout my life, but always knew that God was never far away – it was me that had moved.  The biggest thing I have learned from my relationship with Christ is that He wants us to love people and tell them about Him – however we can: through humor, through compassion, through struggles of our own, through tears, through conversation.