I read from Isaiah chapter 8 a few days ago. Verses 11-14 reads (NLV) The LORD has said to me in the strongest terms: “Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you. Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe.”
“Don’t think like everybody else.” That’s tough to do. I’m inundated by a culture that tells me the exact opposite. I’m constantly fed a series of beliefs to adhere to and standards (or lack thereof) that I should follow. The Israelites were threatened with enemies on every side. They had a lot to be fearful of (especially since they weren’t really living up to the standards God had given them to follow). Isaiah essentially says, “Don’t worry about the schemes of man. Just fear God. He’s in charge and He’ll take care of things.”
That’s pretty comforting, and when you get down to it, it’s fairly simple. I tend to make things complex by over analyzing and questioning the situations I face.
I end up fearing many.
The problem with fearing many is that everything ends up owning you. To avoid conflict, pain, rejection, or discomfort, you end up serving those fears. Ultimately you are left spent and worn out.
Instead, we are told to fear One.
Fearing one can still be a problem for us, depending on who or what that one is.
Fearing One, however, leads to hope and confidence because He is the Holy One.
“If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe.”
