Breaking Free from Fear

I am the Lord, the one who encourages you. Why are you afraid of mere humans? They dry up and die like grass.

Isaiah 51:12 (CEV)

Who are you afraid of? The kid on social media who posts mean comments directed at you? The friend who threatens to reject you any time you disagree with them? The adult who cuts you down, making you feel like a fool? The coach who is sometimes unfair to you?

We are made to need people in our lives but not be ruled by them. As we grow, we learn to balance people’s opinions of us with what God thinks about us (which is the truth about us!). We settle into being comfortable with who we are and finding people who love us.

Today's Scripture verse shows us how we can begin to grow in that confidence—by getting closer to God. He is always standing with you and giving you courage and strength to face any situation or person in life.

So do your best to focus on God. You can do this by spending special time with him every day in prayer and by reading your Bible. Or you can find quiet moments to think about who he is (like in this week’s Spiritual Fitness Training). As you get closer to him, you will learn to filter every hurtful comment through his truth. Does he say you are worthless? Does he say you can’t? Never! Drown out the fears of what others think with the truth of what God says. People’s feelings and opinions change, like grass that dries up and dies, but God’s love will never change or fail you. Don’t fear man! God is with you.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Spending time with Jesus doesn’t always mean praying out loud or sitting in a church service. Jesus wants to be close to you throughout your day. You can get closer to Jesus by thinking about him more often. Spending time in nature is a great way to start, because you can think about God as you see all the amazing things he created! This week, spend time outside alone. Bring a journal and a pen or pencil so you can write down your thoughts as you think about God and his goodness. Jesus is with you! Praise him for always being close to you.

INSPIRATION

“Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.”

–Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Joshua 1:9

Proverbs 29:25

2 Timothy 1:7

1 Peter 1:24–25