Two Powerful Truths That Erase Our Reasons to Fear

I bundle up because February isn’t warm even if it’s warmish, grateful there’s finally sunshine. It rests light on my Bible, open to Isaiah 43 because a nugget here arrested my attention and I had to circle back. It’s the first verse, which in The Voice reads, “Remember who created you, O Jacob? Who shaped you, O Israel? See, you have nothing to fear. I, who made you, will take you back. I have chosen you, named you as My own.”

It’s not an isolated nudge to not fear, but one that’s sprinkled through many of the books of the Bible I’ve read so far this year for Mary Demuth’s 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge. Perhaps most memorized is Joshua 1:9:

This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go.
The Voice

Fear is familiar. It’s kept you quiet even when you honestly had something to say. Convinced you to not try, not risk, not show up. Trapped you in your head, in a vicious cycle of people-pleasing and self-perfecting. Stolen more than you want to admit: joy, peace, relational depth.

Fear has stolen more than you want to admit: joy, peace, relational depth_Twyla Franz quote

I once met someone who claimed he feared nothing, and I didn’t buy it. I’d guess you wouldn’t either. We know too well the awful feeling that something is unfixable. It forces your heart high in your throat, creeps red and prickly from your collarbone to your cheeks.

The command to not fear finds us where fear hurts the most, just as it did for our Bible heroes. They were real people too, with as many reasons to be afraid.

And yet, they were reminded by God Himself that fear doesn’t get the final say. Why? Because of two powerful truths that dissolve our excuses and apprehensions: we’re wanted, and we’re His.

Two Fear-Erasing Truths

Identity and belonging change the script. It’s written between the lines in Joshua 1:9 but penned bold in Isaiah 43.

Joshua’s courage was rooted in the God who stayed close by his side. We visualize God, tall and mighty, our hand small in His. Like Joshua, we can be confident because of Who stands next to us. He’s there by choice. His presence speaks loudly of how He feels about us.

Isaiah reminds us who God is and who we are: chosen and named. Therefore, we don’t have to fear.

It’s not—and it never has been—a matter of what we do, or don’t do. Identity is a whole lot deeper than that. It’s what’s always true of us because an unchanging God says so: we’re daughters and sons of a royal King. Immeasurably special to Him (Isaiah 43:4). “Made, shaped, and created for [His] profound glory (v. 7).

The constancy of our identity lends courage because the pressure’s off to self-prove, out-perform, or please all the people. We don’t have to be smarter, stronger, faster, or prettier. We can just be—safe, secure, loved.

The constancy of our identity lends courage because the pressure’s off to self-prove, out-perform, or please all the people_Twyla Franz quote

Knowing our name leads to knowing down to our bones that we belong. We don’t have to wrestle or connive our way into God’s presence. There is already space here reserved just for us. A place up close. Right next to Him.

He chose us first. Let that sink in.

You with the flaws you can readily point out. You with your but-God’s and what-ifs. You who can’t be right all the time. You who push God away and say your way is better, even when you don’t mean to.

And still, He chose you, and keeps choosing you every day since.

Command and Promise

Consistent in both verses is the coupling of command and promise. By itself, “do not fear” sounds coldly blunt. But the directive is not given in isolation. In both Joshua and Isaiah, they’re cradled in powerful promises—truths that help you overcome fear.

When we deep-know the Author of our identity, who says we belong, fear loses its hold on us. “Do not fear” is more of a remember-who-you-are-because-I’m-with-you.

I hear Isaiah 43:5 as a whisper: “So don’t be afraid. I am here.”

The God who comforts, protects, and treasures you is HERE.

The God who gives you a place at His table, at His side, in His family is HERE.

The God who knows you inside and out is HERE.

The God who longed since before the beginning of time to be near us is HERE.

The God who is infinitely holy and abundantly kind is HERE.

The God who does deep work in the unseen places of our hearts is HERE.

The God who will never leave you alone is HERE.

The God who “does the impossible” (Isaiah 43:16) is HERE.

When God nudges you to invite a neighbor over for coffee, remember He is with you. When He prompts you to ask for help or show up for a neighbor, remember He is with you. When self-doubt rushes like a tsunami, remember He is with you.

Fear Doesn’t Get the Final Say

Fear, my friend, doesn’t get the final say. Not on God’s watch.

Here’s a prayer you can pray on the days it’s a struggle:

God, when the reasons to be afraid wall us in, remind us that we’re named and wanted. When they leave us alone and exposed, remind us that You’re right here. When the wrestle with fear is loud in our heads, help us to tune into Your voice instead.

Just a friend over here in your corner,

Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.