“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.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV

Hope, the Antidote for Fear

During this last week of 2020, are you battling the fear of the unknown ahead of us? I have been saddened by bad news of late. Friends have lost loved ones and others are in the hospital or suffering from cancer or other illness, and many this year have committed suicide because of no hope. I see a great deal of fear in our world. Jesus said many times in His Word to not be afraid, do not fear, do not be anxious, and do not let your hearts be troubled. Luke 1: 74 says, “…to rescue us from the hand of our enemies and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”

My mind was drawn back to the time when Christ was born. Hope was born into a world of unrest and darkness. Into this darkness was born Jesus, the Light in the dark world.

Luke, in the first chapter, gives the account of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God. Elizabeth was unable to conceive so the couple was childless. When it became Zechariah’s priestly division’s time to be on duty at the temple, the lot fell on Zechariah to go into the temple of the Lord, and burn incense.

An angel appeared and startled him and he was gripped with fear. The angel said, “Do not be afraid…” and proceeded to tell him that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son and to name him John, and he would prepare the way of the Lord.

Six months later God sent an angel to Mary. Mary, too, was startled and Gabriel said to her, “Do not be afraid…” and proceeded to tell her that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and she would become pregnant with the Holy One to be called the Son of God.

The shepherds were told “Do not be afraid…” when the angel appeared and told them the good news of Christ’s birth. Into a world of hopelessness, hope was born: our gift from God for our salvation.

So I just want to send out this reminder to “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid.” Jesus, our hope, was born in a manger in Bethlehem to become a living sacrifice to pay the price for our sins and become our antidote for fear.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

God of hope, fill us now with joy and peace of this season of remembering Your gift to us: Jesus. May we overflow with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.