Fear Not...

I ordered this book for a friend:

It came to my house, and before I gave it to her, I opened it up and read a few pages. 

She never got her book. 

I guess I should call doubt, worry and fear a "blind spot," or blind spots as the case may be, in my life. I am ashamed to say that I didn't get from Scripture what I am getting from this book. This book is using Scripture to show me how much I allowed these things to dominate my life. And though I  knew that I struggled with these things to an extent, I didn't realize how detrimental they were to my walk and to my relationship with Christ.

I won't outline everything I'm learning, but I will say this. 

The author pointed out that over 300 times in Scripture, the exhortation "Fear not..." is given. His point was that the simple fact that this command is repeated so often gives us a clue as to how important, and damaging and sinful, fear is.

A quick search of the phrase "Fear Not..." at Biblos.com yielded 446 results. I'm going to look them up and write them down. 

I found two of them yesterday reading in Joel.

They are everywhere.

Did God know we, that I, would struggle with fear? And doubt? And worry? Is that why He allowed His Word to be saturated with commands to not dance with these things? Not to play with them? Entertain them? Allow them to be my companions?

This book is showing me what I'm mourning that I could not see on my own. These things are sin against a Holy God.

I knew this. I just didn't live it.

If you have ever thought you might perhaps have a tendency towards fear, worry and/or anxiety, please get this book. The author's gentle manner and use of Scripture will challenge you and comfort you all at the same time.

I guess I need to order another one for my friend. I'm keeping this one. 

Running Scared 

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