When we announced that we were moving our family to the Middle East, we were asked a wide assortment of questions. Is it safe? Aren’t there Muslims there? Will your four daughters be okay? Aren’t you scared? There seemed to be much fear and trepidation around this decision and the location. Some answers were obvious to us. “Well, yes, there are Muslims. It’s an Islamic country.” Others were not. We had no idea how our girls would handle it. I had no idea how I would handle it. It was all going to be new territory. We could have chosen to give into the fear and uncertainty but we were also burdened by the need of the Gospel in the area and its people. We had to stand on the promise that God would keep us safe and that He would give our family peace. 

Fear can be an unrelenting foe. It controls our minds, our hearts, and our emotions. If we let it wreak havoc, it can even stop us from doing things we love and have a heart for. Its little brother, Anxiety, can even pick at us so much that we develop health problems like IBS, ulcers, migraines, and a whole assortment of other ailments. Together, they can stop us dead in our tracks. How often do we unwittingly choose to be influenced by this dynamic duo? 

But the fear of the Lord is a completely different experience. It is an awe, a reverence, a high level of respect for the Lord. This kind of fear draws us closer to Him. It gives us wisdom, a fountain of life, and enables us to abide in safety. The fear of the Lord leads us to life and life more abundantly. What a stark contrast to the other fear. Steffany Gretzinger once said, “If we don’t fear the Lord, we will fear everything else.” Isaiah 26:3 promises peace to our minds when we are dependent on Him. If we trust Him and not the messages of fear, we will have an Everlasting Rock to stand on. Let’s choose a healthier fear and let the fear of the Lord guide our steps even if outwardly they are uncertain and scary.