Fear

Read Isaiah 41:8-13

Context:

Text:
8 "But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 "All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.(NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever been told that it is a sin to be afraid? That, by being fearful, you are not trusting God? I have...and today I found out that this is incorrect!

In the Bible study Steve is using to teach us on Sundays, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado, I was reminded that Jesus was afraid in the Garden of Gethsemane. He "fell to the ground" (Mk 14:35), he was "very sad and troubled...to the point of death" (Mt 26:37-38), and he was "full of pain" (Lk 22:44). In order for Jesus to face all things that humans face, he had to feel that sense of fear that each of us has at one time or another. We don't know how much Jesus knew about what was to happen over the next few hours, but either because of his fear of the unknown or the natural fear of pain, he was in agony over what was to come.