SOMETHING about feeling alone. . .something vulnerable, unprotected, exposed. Why don’t I hear strange noises at night unless I’m home alone? Why do I feel completely comfortable in strange situations with my husband, but most uncomfortable by myself? The simple presence of another person can make us feel stronger and more courageous.

As a young lad, my husband’s daddy offered him one hundred dollars to walk around the outside of the house after dark. He declined. Behind fear of the dark lie fears of abandonment. If only this young boy’s daddy had walked with him into the darkness. His presence and relationship in that, or in any other real or imagined fearful time in this boy’s life, could have translated into the reality of the heavenly Father’s relational presence.

I still remember my fear of imaginary bears and Mommy embracing and telling me, In what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee (Ps 56:3). Later Mom told me to remember, I will trust, and not be afraid (Isa 12:2). Relationship builds a trust where we feel secure, protected, and assured. A deliberate choice to trust right at the get-go dispels fear of evil before it gains a grip in our hearts and minds.

As childhood bears moved out, adult bears moved in—job loss incited fearful imaginations, while fear of criticism, intimidation, or rejection robbed me of confidence. Fear of making wrong decisions can emotionally paralyzed us. Many phobias bring ominous fears of pain or death. Evils of crime, war, natural disasters, political atrocities, and terrorism can strike fear into any heart. Luke 21:26 says, men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken (NKJV).

We attempt to dispel fears by human effort—personal pep talks, medications, denial, avoidance patterns, shutting down or raging out. These ineffective methods only deepen our insecurities. God gifted us with fear to wisely avoid danger. However, the Fall corrupted our sense of legitimate danger and put us in bondage to anxiety. An on-line dictionary says fear is the expectation of evil. Behind fear lurk lies. Behind lies hides the father of lies. Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work. Faith expects good and behind faith lives truth. Behind truth lives the Father whose perfect love casts out fear. God wants us to live by faith—to expect God to bring good out of all our circumstances.

Jesus overcame evil on the cross to establish a relationship with us. The cross momentarily ripped God the Father and God the Son apart. Because the perfectly pure Son took upon Himself all the sin and yuck of this world, His Father turned His face from Him in unimaginable grief and pain. The Son cried out in equal torment, My God, My God! Why have You forsaken Me? Yet, God tells us, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Heb 13:5b). Because the Son exchanged our sin for His righteousness, the Father looks upon those who receive His Son with infinite joy. His relational presence opens our prison doors. As we cast our cares on Him, talk things over with Him, spend time meditating on what He wrote to us, He reveals more and more of Himself. As our relationship grows, so does our trust.

How could I write this message where the blood of martyrs runs hot? People suffer torture, rape, and death for the sake of the Christ. God did not protect His own Son from torture and death on the cross. Why? Because through His Son’s suffering, He justified many people and brought them into His eternal joy. God strengthens us in our suffering and reveals Himself through our suffering to a lost and dying world. He does not always protect our temporary bodies, but far more importantly, He protects our souls and will usher us into the glories of heaven with great reward.

People who walk through the valley of the shadow of death write things like this:

Fear and faith cannot exist within my heart at the same time. When we live by faith, trusting the Lord moment by moment, fear has no room in the heart.
—John Short, detained in North Korea

Like that the Lord said to me, “They are persecuting Me. Will you lend Me your body? It is Me they are persecuting. Will you love them? Will you love these that persecute you?” It was in that moment that He started giving me the strength of the Holy Spirit to withstand.
—“Sister Amber” on VOM Radio

Our Abba Father’s love relationship with us extends beyond head knowledge. He pursues us on a heart level and relates to our joys, fears, passions, shame, guilt, hurts, loneliness, and sadness. He weeps with those who weep and rejoices with those who rejoice. God remains with His blood-bought children and within them by His Holy Spirit. With gratitude and confidence we can take risks, face change, withstand the evils of our day, and even enter the valley of the shadow of death. Our heavenly Father remains relationally present with us and strengthens us to the very end through His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, Rejoice!

LORD JESUS

More fragrant
Than the sweetest flower,
More gentle than a lamb,
Stronger than a mighty army
Is Your nail-pierced hand.

And when I
Cannot see Your hand
Move the sea apart,
You quiet me by Your perfect love
To trust Your loving heart.

For someday
I shall see You, LORD,
We’ll stand there face to face,
And all the struggles of the years
Will melt in our embrace!

—MarJean S. Peters