“Only thing we have to fear is fear itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

I fear a lot of stuff, but I usually don’t feel like I’m fearing fear. I fear heights, sickness, the unknown — you know what I’m talking about. Insert your fear; we’ve all got them. When I find myself getting fearful, I get careful, protective, and my lizard brain (fight or flight) kicks in. My decisions are hasty, and my judgments are quick.

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-31)

WHAT???

Put yourself in Mary’s shoes.

I’ll say this verse in my words…

Mary, because God likes you, He is going to miraculously put a baby inside you that you’ll name Jesus. Don’t be scared.

Talk about fear. Talk about lizard brain. I would have instantly felt like saying, “Nah, I’m good.”

But, that’s not what Mary did. She feared fear more than all of the unknowns.

The scriptures are filled with examples of our Lord telling us to “fear not.”

He promises to take care of us. He asks us to trust Him. He even went so far as to put His mind in us through His Spirit.

The things we fear are not the things to be afraid of. Not trusting God is the scariest place to be.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.