Weekly Devotional: Cultivating Hope for a Life Beyond Fear
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6
It is easy to give in to fear, especially right now. Fear can arise with poor health of a family member, your personal finances, your state of living, failed relationships, being away from people you love or simply the way you are feeling at this time in your life. Living in fear can make you feel lost and uncertain of what is the next right thing for you. However, when we walk closely with God, He teaches us to have courage and to live beyond fear. In Deuteronomy 31:6, God says, “Do not fear,” to remind us that we are not alone. He reminds us that He will never abandon us and will continue to hold our hands every step of the way.
God Extinguishes All Fear
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” – 1 Timothy 6:17
We need to learn to set our hearts and desires on God so He can teach us to live a life free of fear. When we ground ourselves in the truth and release our fears to Him, He can take control of our worries. The promises of this world persuade us to rely on our own solutions instead of God’s. Yet, when we turn our eyes away from God, we can never feel that our quest for peace is complete. What is more peaceful than a man who can save us from all the fear in the world? God provides us with everything we need.
Reliance on God's Word
We must recognize that all things are possible through Christ and that he gives us the strength we need to live fearlessly. However, such trust and confidence may not always come naturally. This is why we should continue to seek out God's Word and abide in His works to help our fear diminish. When God says, "Do not fear," it means He will never leave us or forsake us, and the sooner we accept the truth of this, the faster our confidence can grow and our fear dissolve.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University.