Unafraid

So, apprarently there are 365 verses in the Bible that tell us, "Do not fear".  I've never counted, and don't plan on it, because, well, somebody else already has and I'm just gonna give them the benefit of the doubt.  Anyway, 365 verses about not being afraid means that there is one for every single day of the year.  (Except this year, a leap year.  Obvoiously someone needs to find another one for February 29th!!) 

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is in Mark 5 when Jesus tells the synagogue ruler who had just learned that his daughter had died, "Don't be afraid; just believe."  The Message says, "Don't listen to them; just trust me."  Then Jesus proceeded on to the man's house and told the supposedly dead girl to, "wake up," and she did.  She got up and started walking around.  People were astonished. 

Another favorite is in Mark 8.  A dad brings his boy who has been possessed by a demon for his entire life to Jesus.  First he finds the disciples, who couldn't help him, but then Jesus comes on the scene.  This daddy says to Jesus, "If you can do anything, do it.  Please help us." 

Jesus said, "If?  There are no 'ifs' among believers.  ANYTHING can happen." 

No sooner were the words out of Jesus' mouth when that dad cried, "I believe!!  Help my unbelief."  (A lot of emphasis was added by me, because this is how I imagine this conversation going down.)

There are days when I feel scared.  There are days when we all feel scared.  There are days when I hear that still small voice speak to me, "Don't be afraid.  Just believe." 

And I say, "But God!!  We need this.   And we need this.  And we don't have this.  And I don't know the right people.  And I have no stinkin' idea how in the heck you could have ever called us to do something like this, because today I am JUST NOT FEELING UP TO THE CHALLENGE!!" 

And I still hear, "Don't be afraid.  Just believe."

Dang!!  I'm trying.  With everything in me, I'm trying.  "Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.  I know you're strong.  You're bigger than my circumstances.  You own the cattle on the thousand hills.  You are 'I AM'.  You've done this, and this, and that.  You gave me this, you've given me that.  You brought me here and you brought me there.  You brought this person into my life.  You had this person do this for me.  You had this person say that to me.  I've never had a need go unmet.  Every single need I've ever had, you were up to the challenge.  You're bigger than me.  You know what is best for me.  You've got this covered."

And once again, I can rest in "Don't be afraid; just believe."