Do Not BE Afraid
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” NKJV
We went to Astoria one early evening and headed up to the column. Whether you climb the historic column or not, the view up on that hill is fabulous.
You can see all around, mostly you can enjoy the beautiful sunsets.
Our girl loves going up to the top of the column and throwing the little wooden planes over the guardrail, which is a custom to participate in.
Me, I have been up that column and thrown airplanes, but the last time I went up the spiraling metal stairs was my last.
It terrified me.
The echoing noise, the spiraling staircase, I felt like I would fall or spin out in my head. And once you reach the top, and open the door, you step on to a 3- or 4-foot-wide cement floor with a guardrail. The ground is straight below.
I hugged the wall.
Going up the column was not something I would do in my future. It was fun for others but not for me.
Except…
I read a devotional on Joshua when he stepped into his leadership position after Moses had passed on.
God said to Joshua, “Do not BE afraid.”
He didn’t tell Joshua to not feel afraid.
He told him to not BE afraid.
I felt afraid of going up those stairs to the top of the column, opening the door and stepping out on the concrete slab.
However, I had newfound encouragement, I didn’t have to BE afraid. I could go up those winding stairs feeling afraid.
So, with determination I opened the door on the bottom of the column. I stepped in and waited until people were off the stairs.
Then I started up the stairs saying Do not BE afraid. I can feel afraid, but don’t BE afraid.
I started up the stairs and then went right back down, but I was not dismayed, I tried it again. About four times.
My girl who had gone up before me, came down and offered to go right in front of me, and my husband came in and said he would be right behind me.
Just like in scripture Psalm 139:5 “You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.”
Sometimes a person needs encouraging help to not BE afraid.
Up the stairs I went.
Guarded in front and guarded in the back, with the words DO not BE afraid continually in my mind and sometimes I spoke the words aloud.
It took more than a minute, but I made it to the top.
I stepped out and thoroughly enjoyed the view despite my internal feelings of fear, remembering God is with me.
I try to bring that now into my daily life.
When things are in front of me that make me feel overwhelmed, yes, I can feel afraid, but because of the ROCK that is higher than I, and the promise that Jesus will never leave nor forsake me, I don’t have to BE afraid.
I can go forward with the hope that He is with me always.
The following Bible verses are great to remember when facing fear.
Isaiah 41:10
“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.”
Psalm 56:3
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalm 139 1-5
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up.’
You understand MY thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD You know I altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Psalm 61:2
“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”
We can all FEEL afraid, but with God we don’t have to BE afraid.
Excerpt from The Person in The Mirror by Linda Reinhardt
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