Franklin D. Roosevelt once said that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The famous poster of World War II that quoted, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” often associated with Winston Churchill’s spirit of tenacity in the face of adversity, would be a good reminder for our culture today.

The current scare of the Coronavirus is like reading a chapter out of Revelation or the series Left Behind. These are very interesting days. But they are not days that should be feared. Our only fear should be the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of knowledge. And we need knowledge—the knowledge of God that leads to the Wisdom of God so that we might be able to discern between truth and error and good and evil. To gain this understanding, we need to be immersed in the Word of God.

Are you fearful? Is this new viral scare causing you to make choices that are governed by fear and not Wisdom? Below are some helpful truths that will give you some guidance in a world full of anxiety:

My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet (Proverbs 3:21-24).

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. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it (Proverbs 25: 25-27).

Hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death (Proverbs 8:32-34).

The LORD God is a sun and shield; he gives grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11)

I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him (Eccles. 3:11-14).

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" (John 3:27).

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2).

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand (Deut. 32:39).

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things (Is. 45:7).

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?(Jer.32:27).

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Dan 2:21).

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:16).

There are 4 essential truths of which every Christian should be fully persuaded: 

1. God is good.
2. God works all things together for good.
3. God keeps his promises (all 7,867 of them!).
4. God allows suffering to help grow our character in order for us to experience his unfathomable love (Romans 5:3-5).

The LORD God hold’s even our breath in the palms of his hands (Dan. 5:23). When we fear and honor Him, we will fear the things of this world less and enjoy some sweet sleep!

Dr. Mark Hamby

---

20% OFF over 20 Titles

in the Facing Fear in Adversity category

Use coupon code: MARCH20