Trust versus Fear: My Mom’s Favorite Bible Verse

My mother loved this verse from Isaiah 45,

“I will go before you and make the rugged places plain.  I will break in pieces the doors of brass and cut asunder the doors of iron.  And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches in secret places that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by name.”

What a concept…God going before us.  Sometimes we see evidence of his presence in our immediate path; sometimes he seems outside our gaze. 

But this we know – 

God is FOR us; God is WITH us. And God leads us through valleys.   Even valleys of the shadow of death.

Sometimes when I am full of fear, I picture a seesaw with TRUST on one side and FEAR on the other.  This visual is from the devotional, Jesus Calling.  On the reading for August 10, Sarah Young writes the following (as if God is speaking).

“Your mind is somewhat like a seesaw.  As your trust in Me goes up, fear and worry automatically go down.  Time spent with Me not only increases your trust; it also helps you discern what is important and what is not.  As you walk close to Me, saturating your mind with Scripture, I will show you how to spend your time and energy.  My Word is a lamp to your feet; My presence is a Light for your path. (Psalm 119:105).”

 

So let the saturation begin.  According to Margaret’s favorite verse, not only does God go before us, …

-He makes rugged places plain.  Only God can fill that gaping hole in our lives and grant peace that passes understanding.

-He grants us riches and treasures.  His presence is our treasure – more secure than what markets yield and more joyful than we can contain.

-He calls us by name.  He knows us – the good, bad and ugly.  And yet, He loves us still.

 

How’s your seesaw today?

Let’s saturate our minds with these Encouragement Verses so that TRUST is elevated over FEAR, leaving it plopped on the dirt, bored and immobilized – and no doubt cranky.