Courage, Dear Heart. How We Can Face the Future Without Fear.

Fear demoralizes, immobilizes and defeats a person. Many people live in fear these days. Yet there is a way to face the future with courage, peace and hope.

When Lucy Pevensie journeyed with her brother, cousin, and Prince Caspian aboard the ship the Dawn Treader, she became frightened when the ship got stuck at the Dark Island where their worst fears were realized.

As the darkness increased, and the men pulled at the oars frantically to leave the island, someone cried out, “We will never get out!”

“Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting top and whispered, ‘Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now.’ The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little — a very, very little– better….”

Then a bright light shines from above on the ship. At its center is an albatross. They follow the direction that the bird leads them.

“Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, ‘Courage, dear heart!’, and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s.”

Voyage of the Dawn Treader, CS Lewis

Courage, dear heart.

The Darkness is closing in. We feel it. The news confirms it. The end is closer than we think. It is the End of the Beginning.

Our immediate response is fear. But we do not need to fear.

If you are a child of God, there are solid reasons why we should live in faith, not panic, confusion, and despair.

Fear is not logical. It feeds on worry, misinformation, and trusting in the wrong things.

The devil lurks in those fears you entertain, and he is laughing because he knows he can defeat you when you indulge in worry and dread.

Faith, on the other hand, is fed from the Word of God.

II Tim. 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound judgment (discipline).”

Why should we not fear the future?

Here are 5 reasons why we should not fear.

God is with all true believers.

Turn off the news, lay your phone or tablet down, and reach for your Bible. Open its sacred pages. Read His Word and let it comfort your soul.

Here’s a good one to memorize: Phil. 4:4-7 Write it out. Keep it with you as you go throughout your day.

God has promised to be with us (Heb. 13:6), to protect us (Psa. 23), and to keep our souls safe from evil (Psa. 91).

God is with you.

He will walk with you each moment of 2021 if you allow Him.

He has not forsaken us. In fact, He is IN this. And He is saying to you, “Courage, dear heart.”

If you are a believer, He dwells within you. He will not forsake you. Heb. 13:5-6, “Make sure your character is free from the love of money, being content, for He Himself said, “I will never desert you; nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we may confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid, what will man do to me?”

Second reason we should not fear the coming storm:

God is in control of the affairs of this world, including America in 2021.

This election did not take God by surprise.

He is not in heaven, wringing His hands in despair, saying, “Oh, no! Whatever shall I do now?”

Even if America leaves the comfortable land of democracy and enters socialism, God is still in control.

Even if Christians must suffer persecution and the church is forced underground, God is in control.

Even with all the hated restrictions of Covid-19, God is still in control.

He is working His plan. His plan to eradicate sin once and for all, to re-create the earth and heavens, and to bring all who love and trust in Him to Himself to live together forever.

If you believe everything you read, start with the Bible.

God has graciously given insight as to what His plan is. You will find peace of heart and joy as you read those sacred pages, memorize the ancient Word, and obey everything you know He tells you to do.

Psa. 11:5-7. “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.”

Read and study the book of Revelation. It will give you insights into the power, might and majesty of our God. It will show you that the LAMB WINS. Satan, the Antichrist, and all who follow him are destroyed forever and ever in the lake of fire.

Here’s another reason why we don’t need to fear the future:

3. Your strength and ability to cope with what 2021 brings rests in God alone.

As a man stood near the walled city of Jericho many years ago, contemplating the coming siege and conquest of the city, he heard a voice in his heart and mind saying, “Only be strong and courageous… Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh. 1:7-9

Did you notice that “be strong and courageous” is repeated three times in this passage?

God had a message for Joshua. He has the same one for you. For all of us who trust in His name. God is with us. He will help us.

We can’t do this alone.

We need God. His strength, His wisdom, His peace, His love.

Admit that you need God. Turn to Him when you are afraid. He will give you peace. Jn. 14:27-28, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Here’s another reason why we don’t have to fear:

He has promised to keep us from evil.

Do you believe in angels? God’s Word says we have angels who are assigned to us and protect us from evil.

I remember a time when we visited The Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed viewing the monolithic stones rearing from the desert floor. As we stopped at one place, we walked to the trail that led below where there was a covered picnic area and viewing spot for the giant rock that loomed over us.

We had to go right by a car that was parked near the trailhead. Several large, silent men stood near the car and watched us like a hawk. We felt a little intimidated, but we continued past them and started down the trail.

At one point, the trail turned a sharp corner and descended even more steeply. There were trees down below. A rock stood at the corner. We both stopped. Steely fingers of fear slid up and down my spine. I stared straight ahead and said in a low voice, “I think we should go back.”

Dan said, “I think so, too.”

We turned and made our way back up the trail. I caught sight of one man reaching for something in the car. They all froze when they saw that we’d turned around. Walking past them was torture. We longed to make a dash for the car, but we didn’t.

We got to the car and took off.

As we thought about that incident later, we were sure that an angel had stopped us in our tracks. Those men meant to murder us or worse. An angel protected us from evil. The world pictures angels as either babies or young women. This is a lie of Satan. Angels are very powerful, wise, and holy.

Psalm 91 is the greatest song ever written that describes a person’s safety when evil threatens.

When Abraham plead with God to rescue his nephew, Lot, from the doomed city of Sodom, he entreated the Lord with these words, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of the earth deal justly?” Gen. 18:23-25

And consider this: I Thess. 1:10, “This Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

And this: II Pet. 2:9, (after mentioning Noah’s salvation in the Ark, and the rescue of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah) “Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.”

God allows His children to suffer times of persecution, trouble and even loss of life, yet we know that God keeps us safe.

They may destroy this body, but they can’t destroy my soul.

When you put your trust in God completely, the things of this world fade.

Money, possessions, fame, education, awards, accomplishments — all of these will be gone someday. The only things left are what really matters. God. Your faith. The Bible. People who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

You can’t do this alone. Not even if you have a lot of money, education, titles after your name, or friends in high places.

Turn your trust and attention to the One who can help you walk every step of the coming days and has promised to take you Home to be with Him in glory, Jesus Christ.

Lastly, we do not need to fear the future because:

God is sovereign. He has a plan for the world, and He is working His plan.

It’s a point of wisdom to fall in with His plan, submit yourself to His will, and seek His kingdom. (Matt. 5:10, “Your kingdom come.”)

We can’t trust the government,

The media,

The stock market,

The laws of the land,

The Covid-19 vaccine,

Or anything else in this world.

We can only trust God.

He has a plan and He is working His plan.

Do you know what it is?

Do you know what the signs for the tribulation that is coming soon and for His second coming?

If not, you need to open your Bible.

A good place to read is Revelation.

And you might need a guide.

Take a look at my Revelation Bible study book, The End of the Beginning, and purchase a copy for yourself, for your family, neighbors, friends, and church.

Start a Bible study.

As you work your way through the fantastic book of Revelation, you will be in awe of our mighty, wonderful God, of the Lamb on the Throne, and of the way God is working His plan.

Read it. Grow in your understanding of what God is doing in our world today.

And fear will disappear like early morning mist. The fog will lift. Your heart will be light.

Fear God alone. Trust Him.

GOD is:

*WITH YOU,

*IN CONTROL,

*ABLE TO HELP YOU,

*STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES FROM EVIL,

*and HE IS WORKING HIS PLAN FOR THE AGES.

Write that out in big letters and post it where you can see if often.

You do not need to fear because you belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords and He will take you safely Home.