In reading through Genesis for the umpteenth time in my life, I slowed down to better focus on the Patriarchs of the faith. Abraham is the one that many look to as the father of faith, but did you know that Abraham also had fears?

I find it interesting that this man who talked with God; who left the security of the country he had always known as home for a land he knew nothing about; who, upon hearing that his nephew Lot had been captured, thought nothing of heading out with a handful of servants in order to release him and all of the other captives … this same man told his wife, “Wherever we go, tell people you are my sister so that they don’t kill me for your sake.” Now I would say that the thought behind this was to protect Sarah, but the fact is that he endangered her in order to save his own skin. Scripture doesn’t record God reprimanding Abraham for this and, in fact, at the end of his life, he still made it into the Hall of Faith.

Being a child of God does not exempt you from fear. Even Christians can fear the future, dying, being betrayed, etc. The older I get, the more fears I find that I have, and yet God does not want us to live in fear. He goes so far as to say that “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). So how do we get that perfect love?

It starts by going to the One who is love: Almighty Yahweh. If you truly believe that He knows what’s best for you and has loved you since the day you were conceived, you have nothing to fear. This knowledge does not automatically take away the feelings, but I believe that the more you press into Him and learn of Him and grow to love Him, the fears will begin to lessen. You will have a greater assurance that He will be with you at the end of your life, that He will give you strength for whatever comes your way as you walk with Him. The more you draw near to Him, the more every doubt, fear, and anxiety will disappear.

No matter what you are going through, I pray that you will continue to hold to God’s unchanging hand. Trust that He loves you and is holding you as you walk through the storms. One day, all the trials you’ve experienced will be a distant memory as your faith becomes sight. Meanwhile, keep pressing on, dear Brothers and Sisters. This world is not our final home. One day, we will see the King. What better thought to begin a week of Thanksgiving!