Man's greatest fear

...I will trust and not be afraid.  Isaiah 12:2

During the difficult days of World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt sought to strengthen the resolve of the American people. In a radio message he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!”

When my son Steve and two of his climbing buddies were scaling the face of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, one of his partners, Robert Nichols, faced a near tragedy. The gear holding him securely to the face of the rock became disengaged, and he plunged downward some 40 feet, or the equivalent of four floors of a building. The valley floor was more than 2,700 feet below them. Finally, the rope that secured Robert pulled taut, and the danger was ended.

Was Robert afraid? Who wouldn’t be? But he didn’t quit. “I felt drained,” says Robert, “but repeating, ‘God is my strength and my shield’ managed to displace the fear and filled me with hope that we would safely reach our goal.”

The book of Hebrews speaks of those “who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15). Is there hope for them?

There’s Good News! The Bible says that in dying and rising from the dead the third day, Jesus Christ became the Deliverer who frees us from the fear of death. He’s fought the battle, and He’s won! You will never be destroyed or defeated forever.

What you may not know is that you can trust God. You can take the hand of the Shepherd who has been through the valley and go on when you are troubled because He is stronger than anything you will ever face, and when He is your Lord, you can trust Him.