Before You Begin
Pause. Quiet your mind, take a slow breath in and out. Stay in this moment.
Passage
Reading & Reflection
I don’t know about you, but I can get sucked into doomscrolling without any effort. And I’m not even looking for garbage or controversy online.
How about you?
As we meet the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, the situation facing the Israelite community was desperate. They were anticipating imminent invasion by Assyria, a nation known for its utter brutality in warfare. Assyria was a ruthless, terrorist state. If they invaded, thousands would be tortured and killed.
You can imagine people buzzing with fear and trembling in their villages and homes, terrified of the future and, the text tells us, even coming up with conspiracy theories (v. 12).
However, Isaiah reminds us that fearing bad outcomes in our lives is misplacing our fear. He tells us not to think like everyone else.
Isaiah goes on to say that the one we must fear is God himself: “Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.”
Okay, fair enough. But it’s passages like this that make people not like the Old Testament. So now we’re afraid of the world and afraid of God?
Not quite. Read to the end. For Isaiah adds this: “He will keep you safe.”
The God who is stronger and mightier than the fiercest army is ultimately going to keep us safe.
There is One bigger than the fiercest terrorist state or the worst news you could face, and he is kind and good.
And therein lies our hope.
If you’re afraid, you are not supposed to think like everyone else. For you know better.
God is mightier, and God is good.
Bottom Line: Appropriately placed fear produces peace, not panic. Let your awe of God lead you.
Morning Prayer
Lord, there is a lot to fear these days, but I confess I fear the wrong things. Help me not to think like the rest of humanity. For I know you, and you are greater than anyone and anything, and you will keep us safe.
Evening Prayer
Heavenly Father, all kinds of things have happened today in my life and in the world. I confess that, in moments, I have lost hope. Thank you that you are good, that you revealed yourself to be love, and that we have hope in you. Focus my eyes tonight on your goodness. Help me not to think like everyone else, but to put my confidence in you instead.
