Don't Be Afraid

hey, everyone! this is quite a crazy time we are living in, isn't it? in the 22 years that I have lived, I've never experienced anything like the global pandemic we are facing right now.

as the circumstances have been evolving & changing over the past few weeks, there's something that I have noticed that I'm sure you have noticed too...

fear.

the times we are living in right now are stirring up a lot of fear amongst people. and I get it...this virus is scary. we can't control it. yes, we can follow social distancing guidelines and take certain measures to stay healthy, but we can't see the virus. we can't grab hold of it and dispose of it. we don't know how long it will last. and I agree, that's scary!

it's okay to be scared. it's natural. even Jesus' disciples experienced fear. there's an instance in Luke 5 where Jesus and Simon Peter are sitting in a boat in deep waters. while they are sitting there, Jesus instructed Simon Peter - or as I like to call him, SP - to cast his fishing nets into the deeps waters below them. Our friend SP probably thought Jesus was crazy because SP had been fishing all night in the same area and hadn't caught anything! but, he did it anyways. and the next thing you know, SP's nets began to fill up so fast that they began to break! SP fell at Jesus' feet and told him to go away.

"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" -Luke 5:8

SP felt unworthy, and I believe he felt the inadequacies of his own strength and it must've scared him because Jesus responded by telling him to not be afraid.

"Don't be afraid; from now on, you will catch men." -Luke 5:10

so, why am I telling you this? because, like I said above, it's okay to be scared. it's natural! there's numerous Bible stories that show this to be true, and from this passage alone and the example of SP, I have realized that when things are out of our control, it makes us aware of the inadequacies of our own strength. this would be a really depressing statement if it wasn't followed up by the fact that Jesus - our Lord and Savior Himself - says do not be afraid.

when things are out of our control, it makes us aware of the inadequacies of our own strength. (quote paraphrased from Debbie Morris)

He tells us to not be afraid because He is in control when we are not. He knows what we don't. He is strong where we are weak.

in times like we are living in today, where fear is very prevalent, I find this very encouraging. and I hope maybe you do too :)

wash your hands, but don't be afraid!

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Credit to the 20/20: God's Vision for My Life Bible App Plan and author Debbie Morris for prompting me to read this passage of Scripture and for pointing out that when things are out of our control, it makes us aware of the inadequacies of our own strength :)