Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Did you know the most common command the Lord gives us in the Bible is “Do not fear”?
Why is that? Perhaps it’s because He knows us well enough to know that our natural tendency is to be afraid:
- Afraid our needs won’t be met…
- Afraid our life won’t turn out how we hoped…
- Afraid the people we love will abandon or reject us…
More often than not, these fears are rooted in a lack of trust. They are the result of not trusting that everything God says applies to those who are in Christ is true—even for you.
You see, when you put your trust fully in the Lord, you will come to see how His promises overcome all of your fears.
After all:
- What does Matthew say about God meeting your needs?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:31-34).
- What does Jeremiah say about God’s plans for your life?
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 2:11-13).
- What does today’s verse in Deuteronomy say about God abandoning you?
8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
The more you trust the love of Christ, the less you will sense the need to be afraid.
This is how trusting that God is always right there with you, that He will never fail you, and that He will never leave you—no matter what—sets you free from fear.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear (1 John 4:18).
