“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

There is much fear in the world today. I have never known a time when so many people are afraid of almost everything. Today is a day of uncertainty. One hears of earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, illnesses, the downfall of the economy, rumors of wars, and so many other things of which to be afraid.

Why should one not be afraid?

What does God’s Word teach us about fear? “1. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof” (Psalm 46:1-3). If we walk with God, He will be with us. 

Remember a great example of fearlessness in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they refused to break God’s Laws – even with the threat of death facing them. King Nebuchadnezzar threw them into the fiery furnace because they chose to obey God’s Word, not the king.

Read some of the following verses that must have encouraged Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they refused to break God’s Laws. They must have remembered David understood that God was his helper. David declared God was the One who delivered him from the death of wild animals (the lion and a bear), and David knew He would deliver him again from Goliath. “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee” (I Samuel 17:37). God delivered Goliath into David’s hand, and David was not harmed.  

Later, David still understood God was watching him, protecting him from harm from his enemies.  “15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15-17). Psalm 121 is also an encouragement to better understand God’s help will be with those who follow Him.

I wonder if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remembered the following verse as they faced the fiery furnace. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2). If you remember, they walked through the fire and were not burned. In addition, Nebuchadnezzar declared he saw One who was the Son of God that was with them in the fire. These verses, and the lives of these three young men, should serve as an encouragement to us – even today. 

Remember what Paul wrote to Timothy: “7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord …” (1 Timothy 1:7-8a). If one has Jesus in their heart and life, and is walking with Him, that Christian should not be afraid.

However, there is one thing a Christian is to fear.

What is that? We are to fear the Lord, doing what His Word says to do. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). That should be rather easy – for if we walk with God, we will depart from evil. So that when all of the troubles of the world seem to come against us, we can stop and be at rest knowing that God is in control. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). Peace comes when Christians remember that God is with us.

Do you take time to be still and know that God is with you?