Do Not Fear? - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 1

Audio By Carbonatix

Do Not Fear
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10, NIV

I once went to a party store in October with my son and daughter to buy my daughter’s Halloween costume. My son was in preschool at the time, and the moment we walked inside, he saw scary Halloween decorations everywhere. There was a robotic talking skeleton with glowing red eyes, a cackling inflatable witch, and other scary displays. He was so afraid that he closed his eyes and refused to open them. My daughter and I gently held his hands and guided him through the store like a blind person because he simply could not bear to look. We hurried to find the costume, paid for it, and got out of there as quickly as we could. My son felt safe because he knew we were with him, even though he couldn’t see where he was going.

You’ll encounter many scary situations in this fallen world. But God encourages you in Isaiah 41:10 not to be afraid, because he is with you and will help you.

You don’t have to fear, because God is with you. God’s presence changes everything. Just as my son found comfort because he knew his family was beside him, you can find peace because your loving Heavenly Father never leaves your side. Even when you can’t see what lies ahead, God sees the whole path before you. God knows every challenge you’ll encounter and every need you’ll have along the way. Nothing surprises God, and no scary situation is too hard for God to handle.

God also promises to strengthen you. There may be days when you feel too weak to manage the challenges you’re facing. But God doesn’t expect you to find strength on your own. He promises to give you the strength you need for each step. God’s power is greater than your weakness. As you rely on God’s strength, you’ll discover that God will empower you to deal with situations that once seemed impossible to manage.

God also promises to help you. You never have to face your struggles by yourself. God sees every problem you’re facing and hears every prayer you pray for help. God will walk closely with you as your personal guide, ready to help at just the right time. Sometimes God will help you by changing your circumstances. At other times, God will give you the grace and endurance to keep trusting him as you go through challenging circumstances. Either way, God will faithfully work for your good.

Finally, God says he will uphold you with his righteous right hand. That means God will hold you securely, so you can be secure even when your life feels unsteady. Even when you feel like you might fall, God is able to keep you standing. God’s loving hand on you is stronger than anything that tries to pull you down.

So, instead of focusing on the fear you feel, focus on God’s promises to you. When fear leads you to think you’re alone, remember that God says, “I am with you.” When fear tells you that you’re too weak, remember that God says, “I will strengthen you.” When fear says no one can help you, remember that God says, “I will help you.” When fear tells you that you’ll fall, remember that God says, “I will uphold you.”

Don’t let fear take control of your life. Each day is another opportunity to trust God’s promises instead of your feelings. As you spend time reading the Bible and bringing your worries to God in prayer, your confidence in God will grow. Little by little, you’ll learn that God’s peace is stronger than your fear because God’s presence is always with you.

Choose to trust God – instead of fear – to lead you forward. You don’t have to walk through life with your eyes closed, wondering what will happen next. God is walking beside you every step of the way. God’s love is constant, God’s strength never fails, and God’s faithful hand is holding you securely. Because God is with you, you don’t have to fear.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how God will help you overcome fear, reflect on these questions:

• What fear are you carrying today that you need to give to God?
• How have you experienced God’s help during a difficult season in your life?
• Which promise in Isaiah 41:10 speaks the most to you today?
• What’s one way you can choose faith instead of fear this week?
• How can remembering that God is always with you change the way you face today’s challenges?

Further Reading:
Psalm 23:4
Deuteronomy 31:8
2 Timothy 1:7
Joshua 1:9
John 14:27

How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.

GO DEEPER:

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/chameleonseye

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com! 

Listen to The Love Offering!

Encouraging you to love God, others, and yourself—one faithful step at a time.

Each week, host Rachael Adams sits down with inspiring women who are making a difference right where they are. Through honest conversations, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories, you'll be reminded that your everyday acts of love—no matter how small—matter deeply to God.

You were created to live a life of impact.
You were made to be a love offering.