Welcome back to “Friday Feature!” Grab a cup of coffee, relax, and enjoy today’s devotion! If you missed the last devotion, you can read it here!
My sweet friend, Miranda, brings us today’s devotion titled, “Overcoming Fear- Grounded in Jesus.” Miranda is a Pastor’s wife, stay-at-home mom to 3 boys, and a blogger. Miranda has a lovely blog, as well as social media feeds, that showcase her love for home decor/design, nesting, wellness and oils, plus so much more! You will not want to miss any of her posts, so give her a follow!
IG: @sweetlittlesmithfarm FB: Sweet Little Smith Farm Blog: Sweet Little Smith Farm
Overcoming Fear – Grounded in Jesus
A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school.
As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword would cut through the sky.
Full of concern, the mother quickly got in her car and drove along the route to her child’s school.
As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up and smiling.
Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, “what are you doing?” The child answered, “smiling, God just keeps taking pictures of me.”
– Unknown
Fear is such a nasty deceiver. At times it seems it can take you at will. The scriptures tell us in Proverbs 3:25-26, “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
The world as a whole, has been overcome the last year with fear. Fear of COVID, fear of isolation, fear of political unrest, fear of financial loss, and the list goes on.
We in all of our humanity, crave reassurance. We want to be reassured that our jobs are secure, that our health is not compromised, and our world is at peace.
John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!”
I know it sounds cliche, but truly, all we need is Jesus. To be rooted and grounded in the hope of our salvation! When we can truly grasp that there is hope beyond this world and earthly dwelling place, THAT is where we can truly find joy. And peace in knowing that He does hold tomorrow. I’m reminded of an old song, “take this whole world, but give me Jesus…”
Oh yes friend, even I at times have been overcome with fear and anxiety, but when I find that place of prayer, and turn all my worries over to Him, I can sleep in the sweet peace of knowing that no matter what comes our way, WE WIN.
I’ll close with this…I’m musically inclined. Have been since I was a child. So naturally, along with scripture, a flood of songs fill my heart when I need them most.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!”
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During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived – everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn’t treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. “You fool,” he shouted as he reached for his sword, “don’t you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!” But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. “And do you realize,” the master replied calmly, “that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?”
I’m so glad my peace and hope is in an ALL-KNOWING, ALL-POWERFUL God who is the Creator of the Universe, and Savior of all mankind!