For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,
I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
We sometimes react to fear.
We react through behaviors that are unhealthy and/or hurt ourselves or others. We stop ourselves from doing things that could challenge us and help us grow. We miss out on amazing experiences because we would rather avoid any risk than be a little afraid.
Some fear is normal and can keep us from doing things we shouldn’t. But letting fear dictate our lives can stymie us and stop us from learning and encountering all that God wants us to experience in life.
God knows that sometimes we will be scared—like when a big change in life happens, we experience something new or different, or we are faced with uncertainty.
Yet God reminds us that fear does not have the last word. No matter what happens, God is right there with us.
This message is excerpted from “Fear” by Becca Ehrlich in the October 2022 devotion of Women of the ELCA. Today is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost.
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