19 August | Teens
«In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”» Zephaniah 3: 16,17
There are several texts on the internet that claim that the expression of today’s devotional, “fear not”, appears 365 times in the Bible. That is, for every day of the year, the Bible would be repeating this same truth. In fact, this statement is not accurate, as the Bible mentions this expression about 100 times. But the number of times isn't what really matters. Even if it were said only once, this message would be powerful enough to fill us with hope. God told Zephaniah not to fear, just as He told Joshua and many other biblical characters the same thing. And He also speaks this to us today: “Fear not!” There is no reason to be afraid, for the Lord our God is with us.
When we feel fear, we can remember that God is there for us, ready to help and protect us. He is bigger than any challenge or problem we may face. And best of all, He loves us and cares for us. So, the next time you feel scared or worried, remember that God is with you and say to yourself, “I will not fear, for God is with me!”
Take Action
To practice trusting God and overcoming fear, give a “fear not” challenge. Pick a day, and whenever you feel fear or anxiety, stop for a moment and pray, asking God to give you courage and peace. At the end of the day, reflect on how you felt and how prayer helped you overcome your fears.