Good morning: The lyrics of a once-popular tune include: “There’s a monster on my ceiling/ There’s a monster on the wall/ There are thousands in the closet/ Now they’re coming down the hall...I need a drink of water/ But I swallow hard instead/ It’s hard to move a muscle/ When you’re frozen in your bed.” Bring back memories? Those imagined monsters were very real to your five-year-old self, weren’t they? We smile at those fears now. We outgrow them. But they are quickly replaced with other “monsters.” Fear is one of the most common, pervasive emotions in life. There is fear of rejection, fear of loneliness, fear of sickness, old age, and death. And always never far away is the fear which guilt brings to the heart, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Satan is skilled at weaponizing fear to attack our faith. It’s not surprising then that there are all kinds of ways offered to overcome fear or to at least manage it. Some suggest that you can muster up the courage within yourself to conquer fear. But what if you can’t? Analyze the fear, look at it rationally, and find people to help is what others advise. But what if, after all that, the fear has just grown more monster-like? Even if every external fear could be erased, there would still be our guilt before the holy God and the eternal punishment we deserve. “ ‘There is no peace,” says the LORD, ‘for the wicked’” (Is. 48:2). Joshua must have had a variety of fears after taking over leadership of Israel. But God reassured him, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). Overcoming his fears was not a matter of looking within himself or putting confidence in his strength, but in trusting the Lord God and His almighty power. Jesus promises you as well, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). No matter what the situation, God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan by paying the penalty for our sin on the cross. He has given us the peace of God which surpasses human understanding. No matter what the fear today, take it to Jesus. Trust His love and power to overcome it. He is greater, and He is with you! In Christ, Pastor Our service tomorrow is at 9 a.m. The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.
