Last week as I taught at the Rescue Mission, Susan (not real name) talked with me about her fears. Susan was a Christian, but because of some poor choices in her life, she was facing something she had never faced before. That night, her home was to be a bunk bed in a room with several other ladies she had never met. They were from all walks of life with many experiences she had never had. Early the next morning, she would gather all the belongings she had and go out to live on the street for the day. She had no job. She had no home. One of her first statements to me was, “I’m scared. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Ye have not passed this way heretofore (before)” the Lord told the Israelites as they were about to cross over into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:4). They did not know what they would face. The Lord had told them some of the things that awaited them, and they had even sent in spies to see a little of that which was before them, but the future seemed a little scary. That is the same situation Christians seem to be in today. We know that the Bible says that perilous times will come. We see the weakening of our government, our economy, our national strength, and our Christian principles. And we tend to fear. We say, “I’m scared. I don’t know how to do this.” The Psalm writer tells us, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Ps. 56:3).
For Susan, for the people of Israel, and for you and me today, the answer is the same – remember Him and trust Him. Moses reminded Joshua, “Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done… so shall the LORD do… Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22). God repeatedly reminded Israel that they had seen what He could do and had done for them. They knew what He had taught them. Our peace, like theirs, comes from trusting Him. He has proven Himself to be faithful. Remembering His faithfulness will help us to conquer our fears. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3,4).
