Listen

All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:14-15

Think

“Fear is the path to the dark side… fear leads to anger… anger leads to hate… hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda, Star Wars Episode I

In the Star Wars series, the villains and heroes all learn to harness a universal life energy known as the force. We understand that the force is intended for good but that a dark side of the force also exists. In the person of Darth Vader, we see the outcome of Yoda’s prophecy, and then we trace it back over time to its root: fear.

Fear is natural. We all have fears. Every person. And although we all have fears, we read in today’s scripture that fear does not come from God. Fear may be as natural as your breath, but it is not a part of who God created us to be.

This is a mysterious and challenging notion: you are a beloved child of God, you are created in God’s image, and you naturally have fear. This is just one part of a long list of things God must be working on in the reconciliation of the world – casting out fear. Perhaps this is one of the ways you can be a part of that restorative work. Fear less.

Daniel Ingram

Pray

Merciful God, sometimes my fears are overwhelming. There is just too much that can go wrong so that I just want to give up and hide. Speak to me, and remind me that I am your beloved child. Amen.

Go

Spread the news of Christ into your corners of the world.

Don’t worry about whether you have what it takes.

You are God’s beloved child, and you have been gifted with all you need to follow Jesus faithfully.

Fear less and love more.