“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
“Fear not” is a phrase found at least 63 times throughout the Scriptures. God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not.” The Angel of God said to Sarah’s runaway handmaiden, Hagar, “Fear not!” The Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not, neither be dismayed” (Joshua 8:1). “Fear not” was God’s command to Gideon in Judges 16:23. Eight times the Lord told Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). “Fear not” was David’s godly counsel to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28:20). “Fear not” was the angel Gabriel’s words to Daniel (Dan. 10:12). When announcing the birth of John the Baptizer, the angel Gabriel said to Zacharias, “Fear not!” Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock.” And the angel Gabriel comforted the virgin Mary by saying, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
But how can we learn to heed the words of our Lord, “Fear not”? With so much violence, sickness, disease, cancer, tribulation, death, and heartache just around the corner from each of us, how can our heart be established in peace? The key is found in the words of Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” How did the Psalmist overcome fear when he went through the valley of the shadow of death? Did you see the psalmist’s remedy against fear? Five key words: “For You are with me.” Dwell upon those words when fear grips your soul, and remember the promise of God: “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Meditate on the truth that the Lord is always with His people, “even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20) and you will sing the words of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
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