"Why Be Afraid?"
“So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Matthew 10:31
I love how the Shepherd prepares His sheep for what’s ahead, even though we have absolutely no clue! That’s why I must share my last journal entry BEFORE this unexpected journey began.
In Matthew 10 when Jesus sent His disciples to the crowds of their world, He warned them to beware: You WILL be arrested, beaten, and tried. BUT don’t worry, God WILL give you everything you need!
I’m so thankful that for every you WILL of life, there is a God WILL! Our Father ALWAYS takes care of His disciples! No wonder Jesus said, don’t worry! And no wonder He repeated three times, “Don’t be afraid!”
Now as I am walking through what my Shepherd already knew was ahead, I am even more grateful for His very personal preparation. First, Jesus reminded me, “Don’t be afraid of those who threaten you.” Even though I’ve experienced my share of threats living in crowds around the world, this is a new one—the threat of age! I’m learning that my older body responds differently to physical threats than my younger body did. BUT Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid!”
Then Jesus mentioned those who want to kill your body. These last months, weakness has made me even more aware of my mortality. BUT no matter what kind of beatings try to kill my body, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid!”
The threats I will experience and beatings I will feel in my body may look different than those of the early disciples. But the God will promises are still the same. At every turn of my unexpected journey, I will have everything I need!
However, Jesus saved the best part of my preparation for last when He reminded me WHY I don’t need to be afraid: My Father knows when even one sparrow falls to the ground. Therefore Jesus concluded,
“Don’t be afraid —
YOU are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows!”
It’s all about relationship—
If I am valuable to God, why be afraid?
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