Everyone loves a campfire ghost story. The flames jump, and the shadows seem alive. We have the companionship of our friends and family to reassure us that it is only a story, and the fear that tickles our backbone is no more than a tickle. We are secure in the knowledge that the story is only in fun.
Yet, in the real world, things really do go bump in the night. Bad things happen even to good Christians, and we need more than simple reassurances.
We need God’s peace to wipe the fear away.
Let’s look at seven examples of the peace that God desires us to know:
2 Timothy 1:7. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
1 John 4:18. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 34:4. “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Deuteronomy 31:6. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:6. “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’ ”
The first thing we should notice from these verses is that they do not all come from the New Testament. They come from across the Word of God. He does not want to take away our fears only under certain circumstances. His desire is for us to know his peace at all stages of our lives.
One other thing we should notice from these verses is what replaces our fears. Look back to 1 John 4:18. God’s love is perfect, and when we let him into our lives, the fear cannot hang around.
That’s just like sitting around that campfire and hearing things go bump in the night. We know they can’t bother us, because we are surrounded by family and friends. In the real world, things will go bump in the night, but it is the perfect love of God that reassures us that nothing can bother us, and we need have no fear at all.
When Jesus fills us up, all the bad stuff has to scoot out the back door.
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