FEAR NOT

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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I’m grateful for technology that allows us to anticipate many of life’s problems. A GPS can tell us there is road construction ahead and when to take a detour. Meteorologists can tell us when to expect extreme weather and how to prepare for it. But I’m not grateful for the fear technology sometimes brings. We hear far more bad news than good, and it can be hard to discern the urgency of a particular situation. The same information that helps us act wisely can also immobilize us with anxiety. Paul had been through many hardships by this time in his life. He had been treated unfairly and experienced persecution, greater than any we will probably ever know. Even here, writing from prison, he demonstrates faith that God will see him through whatever comes. So, when you feel fear beginning to build in your mind, meditate on this hard-earned wisdom from Paul: A spirit of oppressive, overwhelming fear is not from God. Instead, His gifts to us are power, love, and sound judgment.

• Allen Jackson