And don’t be afraid of the people,
for I will be with you and will protect you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Jeremiah 1:8

Read: Jeremiah1:4-10,Genesis15:1-6,Joshua1:1-9

Relate: My algorithm for Facebook and Instagram tends to give me a lot of inspirational Christian videos. I don’t really spend much time on either since I have a 30 minute timer for all social media. But even still, more than once I have seen some variation of the idea that God says “Be not afraid” 365 times. Isn’t that such a beautiful thing? If only it were true. More than one person has actually tried to go through and list them all out. Depending on what variations or implied statements they accept or reject as “too much of a stretch,” the lists they have compiled tend to run in the 140-150 range. It is no 365. But it is still a lot.

God calls a young man to become His prophet. Jeremiah feels out of depth, but God says, “I made you. Don’t be afraid.” Lot leaves, the kings war, and Abraham begins to wonder if this move to Canaan was the right idea. God shows up and says “Don’t be afraid, I am your shield and your great reward.” Joshua is looking at the giants on the other side of the river and also the very big shoes Moses left for him to fill. God says, “Don’t be afraid, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

Christian pauses on his journey and sees the lions Timorous and Mistrust ran from. He fears going on. But then the Porter calls out, “Don’t be afraid. Those lions are in chains.” Christian then had a choice. He could either listen to the roaring of those lions, or he could heed the voice of the Porter. So Christian clasped his hands and stepped forward. Then he stepped again. Then he stepped again. The lions were powerless to touch him because one greater had beckoned him forward.

React: What lions stand in your path? Like Jeremiah, do you see the task as far greater than your age and ability? Don’t be afraid. God has made you specifically for this time and task. Like Abraham, are you beginning to have second thoughts about past acts of obedience? Do you wonder what your legacy might be? God is your reward. Compared to that, what else matters? Like Joshua, do you wonder how you might match up against other giants of the faith? Joshua is no Moses, but he was exactly who God wanted to go in and take the Land. Your destiny is not that of anyone else you might see. But when you walk it out, you do not go alone.

Respond:

Dear God,
When the lions roar around me, help me to listen for your voice. When they shout at me that I can’t, help me to remember You said, “I can.” When fear begins to paralyze me, help me to turn my eyes toward You, clasp my hands, and step forward. You are with me. You formed me in my mother’s womb. You are my shield and my reward. I trust in You.
Amen.