by Pastor Douglas Brauner

God’s Antidote for Fear

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1 English Standard Version

My next door neighbor, Dave, was my best friend in elementary school. We were often at each other’s homes playing with our toy soldiers, climbing their maple tree, and getting into fist fights. If it was winter, and I had stayed for dinner at his house, I had to walk the short distance from his front door to mine in the dark. Though the distance might have been short, it felt like miles.

I was sure that some brain sucking monster was waiting for me, peeking around the maple tree until I was in striking distance. Though I was not a fast runner, small in stature and lighter than a feather, I flew home at the speed of a supersonic jet.

Tonight, on this All Hallows Eve, I will be confronted by my worst nightmare as I answer the doorbell and hear the words “Trick or Treat” from children dressed as brain sucking monsters.

All of us deal with fear, some of those fears are rational, some are not. Some come from our experiences and others from our imaginations. We deal with some fears on a daily basis, and others on the anniversary of a horrific event.

The writer of today’s psalm understood fear. He would not have sung these words had not fear been his companion. He dealt with his fear by turning to the One who was greater than his fear. His rock, his shield, his fortress was the God who loved him and embraced him.

You have a place to turn as you deal with your fears. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you and your baptism into Christ, being clothed with his mercy and forgiveness, you can trust that he is your light on the pathways of fear.

As you face your monsters, may you know that they have already been defeated in Christ.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado