My Dear Friend, 

Our devotional theme today is simple: let us not succumb to fear in fearful times.

The dangers are real, yes. People are wilding, yes. Violence is ongoing, yes. People are being injured, yes. Property is being destroyed, yes. Businesses are being looted, yes. But our God is on His throne. And our faith in His faithfulness is being tested.

Is He the all-powerful Deity, the loving, personal, supernatural Shepherd, and the hovering heavenly Eagle we profess Him to be? Then let us believe Him and confidently confess our faith in Him.

He is reigning over our stormy national "sea," the threatening "waves" of social violence, and the "roaring" of senseless, rebellious mobs (Psalm 93). And with unmatched, intense personal care He is watching over us with His angels charged and positioned to keep us safe - from trouble or in trouble (Psalm 91:1-16; Isaiah 27:1-6).

No "pestilence" - pandemic disease - will harm us. No "arrow" - or bullet - will find its way to us by day or night. That is, if we draw near and "abide" in the "secret place" of personal communion with God daily. If we turn from all sin - so our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) is whole and complete. If we forgive personal enemies and pray for reckless public sinners to come to repentance. If we will only step back and "be still, and know [realize, consider] that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). If "what time we are afraid, we will put our trust in Him" (Psalm 56:3). If we remember that these "calamities" (Psalm 57:1), though menacing, will "pass" like the storm that suddenly gripped the disciples' boat on Galilee and then, just as suddenly, against its will, fell silent and tranquil the instant Jesus spoke His Cease-and-Desist Order, "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:39)!

But, on the other hand, if we're not seeking God, if His Word means nothing to us, if we're ignoring the Spirit's convicting voice and presumptuously practicing sin, we have reason to be afraid, because there are gaps in our spiritual armor and God's protection is not complete. And Josiah's shocking demise shows us one gap may be deadly (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). Or, if we stubbornly refuse to trust God and insist on worrying, we will suffer anxiety attacks and debilitating fear. But true, humble confession and genuine repentance will bring complete forgiveness, and restore us, and God's protection, instantly (1 John 1:9).

And if God, as He sometimes does, should permit anything dangerous or even harmful to befall us, to further test our faith, He will remain by our side. With precise, personal control, He will limit how far the enemy may go in invading our lives with threatening adversities, just as He did Job when, to supremely test his faith, He permitted Satan to attack him without cause (Job 1:12; 2:6). He, not Satan, will set the boundary of the attack: "Thus far shalt thou come, but no farther" (Psalm 38:11). And "no farther" shall it come!

Job's most memorable utterance in His most desperate hour, when his personal world was collapsing on him, is timely for us: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). Job realized that no trouble, however mean, unfair, demonic, or terrible, could change the abiding, loving, wise, just, faithful, and all-powerful character of His God - who turns every evil for good to His faithful children (Romans 8:28). And Job's faith, in the end, was abundantly confirmed. God not only turned his captivity but also kindly gave him "twice" the blessings he had before (Job 42:10-17).

Do you, do I, have the "yet" in us? If we have Jesus, we do. If we have the Holy Spirit, we do. If we have the earth-creating Word of God in our hearts, we do. Then let us not ignore and shame our Lord's intense, personal care of us by succumbing to fear. It is our hour to shine, not shiver! Conquer, not cower! Triumph, not tremble! Christ is coming back soon!

Truly, the only thing to fear is fear itself - and sin in any shape or form. Have none of them! Full, fresh surrender and a decision to fully, freshly trust Jesus amid this present social chaos, will bring full, refreshing peace - and full, fresh strength to rise and do what God would have us do in this crisis. Pray. Believe. Move forward with our duties. Continue assembling together. Pursue our ministries faithfully. Be spiritually minded. Walk in God's amazing love toward all - the lovely and unlovely. And help other believers rise and do the same.

O how we should thank the Lord that, in fear-filled times, we need not be filled with fear. Miraculously, through Christ, we can be full of faith while people on every side are full of fear. So get full of faith! Then, contact another believer and strengthen them. And that's not all.

Be ready to answer any person who asks you a reason of this strange confidence that grips and holds you in these fearful times.

Trusting Him,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries