When You’re Afraid

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading titled When You're Afraid was written by Karen Huang. I had a medical checkup scheduled, and although I'd had no recent health concerns, I dreaded the visit. I was haunted by memories of an unexpected diagnosis long ago. While I knew God was with me and I should simply trust him, I still felt afraid.

I was disappointed in my fear and lack of faith. If God was always with me, why was I feeling such anxiety? Then one morning, I believe he led me to the story of Gideon in the Book of Judges. Called Mighty Warrior, Gideon was fearful over his assignment to attack the Midianites. Although God had promised him his presence and victory, Gideon still sought multiple reassurances.

However, God didn't condemn Gideon for his fear. He understood him. On the night of the attack, he assured Gideon again of victory, even giving him a way to assuage his fears. God understood my fear too. His reassurance gave me the courage to trust him. I experienced his peace, knowing that he was with me regardless of the outcome.

In the end, my checkup was uneventful. We have a God who understands our fears and who reassures us through the Scriptures and the Spirit. May we worship him in thankfulness just as Gideon did. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Judges chapter 7, verses 8 through 15. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home, but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. During that night the Lord said to Gideon, Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying.

Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp. So he and Purah, his servant, went down to the outposts of the camp. The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts.

Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. I had a dream, he was saying. A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp.

It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed. His friend responded, This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands. When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped.

He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, Get up, the Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands. Let's pray. Dear God, Thank You for not condemning our fears, but always reassuring us of Your presence. Help us to turn to You when we're afraid and to learn to trust in You. Thank You, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Joyce Dinkins, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.