Fear comes in many forms. At times, it grips our hearts in the face of danger or uncertainty. Other times, it quietly lingers, sowing seeds of worry about what tomorrow might hold. But the Bible presents two distinct views of fear: the worldly fear that paralyzes us and the holy fear that draws us closer to God.
The worldly fear is the kind God continually commands us to release. It causes us to fixate on our limitations instead of His limitless power. But then there’s the fear of the Lord, a reverence and awe for the One who holds all things in His hands. This kind of fear doesn’t weaken us; it strengthens us. It reminds us that God is sovereign, faithful, and always present.
Isaiah 41:10 captures this beautifully: “Do not fear, for I am with you.” When fear arises, God invites us to shift our focus from the problem to His presence. He doesn’t just say, “Do not fear”—He gives us a reason: He is with us. His promise to uphold us with His righteous hand reassures us that we don’t face life’s challenges alone.
Isn’t it comforting to know that God has given us this passage of text and approximately 364 additional scriptural reminders not to fear—one for every single day of the year? Fear can creep into our hearts in many forms: worry, doubt, uncertainty. Yet, God continually calls us to trust Him instead.
He doesn’t promise a life free from challenges, but He does promise His presence. His assurance, “I am with you,” dispels the loneliness that fear often brings. His strength and help are available to carry us through even the darkest valleys.
My beloved brothers and sisters, the idea that “fear not” or similar phrases appear 365 times in the Bible is a popular claim, often used to emphasize God’s daily encouragement to trust Him. However, I will submit to you there isn’t a definitive count that consistently reaches this number across translations. That being said, while the exact number of reminders might not reach 365, the consistent message throughout Scripture is clear: God calls us to trust Him and not to live in fear.
So Today, let’s fully and completely surrender our fears to God. When fear arises, replace it with the truth of His Word. Remind yourself that the same God who commands us not to fear is the one who holds us in His powerful hands.
Pray with me:
Father God, thank You for reminding us not to fear. Help us to trust in Your presence and power when we face unexpected challenges, obstacles, and set backs. Strengthen our faith so we can walk in courage, optimism, and peace today. In Jesus name, amen!
4GIVEN 