Fear: Driven out by Perfect Love
We can overcome fear with a hope that makes us bold and gives us courage.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9, 1 Chronicles 22:13, Joshua 1:6, Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Deuteronomy 31:23 God does tell us to not be afraid for a reason. If we do not have Him, this world is something we should be fearful of. The only way to push past your fear is to realize He is with us wherever we go. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” -Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” -Joshua 10:8
Courage is what is used to overcome fear, but it does not mean you are unafraid. “There is no fear in love, perfect love drives out fear.” -1 John 4:18 The opposite of fear is not courage, it is love, and God is love. God does not make mistakes. We never have to fear for our life, because He uses ours for His perfect will. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand… For am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” -Isaiah 41:10, 13, Isaiah 43:5 and Haggai 2:4-5
One of my biggest fears in life is that I will not use every ounce of my potential God has given me to glorify Him. Do not be afraid to use your gifts! Pray and ask God what your gifts are and how He wants you to use them. We are His body, and our hands need to start reaching out not letting fear stop us. “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” -Genesis 15:1
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:29-31, Luke 12:6-7 You are valued. Not one bird in this world falls without our God knowing it. How much more are you worth?! Beyond measure! God knows every single hair on your head. What do we have to be afraid of? Only God Himself!
There was a furious storm on the water with waves coming over the boat as Jesus was sleeping. The disciples yelled to him for help, saying they were going to drown. Jesus said “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He got up and rebuked the storm. Complete calmness. “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” -Matthew 8:24-27, Mark 4:37-41 and Luke 8:24-25 When we focus on the storms in the world and in our lives, you will become fearful which will lead to discouragement. When you focus on Jesus, it does not make your storm less scary, but it does remind you who oversees the storm, this world and this life. “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” -Mark 1:27 “He taught as one who had authority.” -Matthew 7:28-29 and Mark 1:22 Jesus has the authority over all the earth and mankind. Who are we to be afraid of?
What happens around us and to us have small effects compared to the God who lies within us. “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” -Psalm 112:7 I know we have all received news that leaves you so afraid and hurt that find yourself numb, shaken and feel a pain so deep you cannot put it into words. When we are steadfast in a relationship with the Lord and His word, when we hear bad news, even though it does not take away the sting and pain you deep down will have a trust in the One who created you and Who allows you to take your next breath.
“So, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.’” -Isaiah 28:16. With Jesus, there is no panic. “When you go to war seeing an army greater than yours, do not be afraid, fainthearted or panic because the Lord your God will be with you. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you to give you victory.” – Deuteronomy 20:1-4 We can trust God is never surprised by the news we hear. He already knows, he knows the heart and we never have to be afraid because He already has plans to work out these situations for our good when we rely on Him. “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” -Psalm 33:11, Jeremiah 50:12 and Revelation 17:17
The disciples caught nothing all night, and in the morning Jesus was on the shore, but they did not recognize him. He said to them “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then John said, “It is the Lord!” Peter jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said “Come and have breakfast.” -John 21:3-12 and John 21:13-14.
Sometimes I think of what I have already went through, and the pain I know that will come while being in a world that has sin, and I cannot help but feel fearful, anxious and sometimes angry with God to allow me to experience the pain. Then I remember, Jesus knows our exact purpose, where He needs us and wants to pour His goodness on us. Even though we may not see what side of the boat His goodness is waiting for us on, we can have courage that He already knows, and is already there.
“The Lord is my Shepard, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” -Psalm 23:1-6
Even though here on earth we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, Christ is granting us His goodness and mercy in this life, while at the same time leading us home to Heaven in perfection forever! We have no need to fear. We can enjoy life today knowing the ultimate goodness is promised in its perfect form once we are in heaven, but He also promises His goodness here on earth while we are in the valley.
“Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” -1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on guard. What is tough is what about when “fear” is healthy? Is it not unhealthy to “fear” a venomous snake if you come across one and run the other direction to protect you? Instead of fear, I like to call this “being on guard” or being aware which are necessary to live a life God desires. The same with redirection. If you desire to go to a certain school, accept a job, move across the country or world or play a certain sport and you may have an unsettled feeling or lack of peace. It can be tough to differentiate, but God will guide you if it is fear holding you back from your dreams, or redirection from Him.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear; though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” -Psalm 46:1-5, 7
Picture the mountains shaking into the heart of the sea. Picture being in the middle of a hurricane with no barrier. God commands us to not be afraid, knowing He surrounds us during the storm. God is within you, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead. He is our fortress, and He keeps these promises.
“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled of afraid.” -John 14:27 Without God, it is impossible to not be troubled or afraid. It is impossible to have true genuine peace. Even though we will always have moments of trouble and fear being human, our foundation on Him will be a peace that only comes from Him. If you look for peace from the world, you may have already realized it is either only temporary because what you have put your peace in continues to either change or fade, or that you never really had peace when you thought you did. Keeping your minds steadfast keep you in peace by getting in His word and talking to Him. Also, talking to others who do the same. This peace is eternal and cannot be taken from you. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” -Isaiah 26:3-4
“As mother comforts her child, God will comfort us.” -Isaiah 66:13 You are never alone. You may feel alone; I know I have. Our feelings are not the truth. Do you think Jesus was afraid the night of before the crucifixion? He sweat blood. Jesus tells us to pray we do not fall into temptation. He prayed “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done. An angel then strengthened him. In anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and he sweat blood.” -Luke 22:40-44, Luke 22:46, Mark 14:36 Jesus was fully committed to God and His will, but His expression of His genuine concern for what he was about to endure shows how personal and real our God is, and how we can do the same. We can be honest with God our concerns and fears, while still obeying and keeping faith. Jesus had courage and fear did not stop him. Why? Love. Perfect love drives out fear. He loves us so much, fear could not stop Him from dying for you and for me. He also went to God in prayer to handle His fear. Jesus experienced the worst, most unfair punishment, yet He trusted God’s will. We are to do the same even when we are in situations that seem unfair or to not make sense.
When we take courage and have faith, we will see God work. Not because we are strong enough, but He is. Therefore we need to be courageous when sharing our gifts. Use whatever gift you have received from God to serve others, you will show God’s grace in various forms.” -1 Peter 4:10 When we know our gifts come from God, we don’t need to be scared.
Amazingly enough, as an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist we have found out that a risk factor for falling is… fear of falling! We all have fear but you can’t let it take over your life. Fear is telling God you do not trust him to take care of you. Sometimes, I patients hold back from coming to therapy or performing their therapy correctly because of fear. Even though there are challenges we fear we can’t handle on our own, there is nothing we are facing God cannot help us overcome. “God is our salvation, defense and strength. We are to trust and not be afraid.” -Isaiah 12:2 Instead of saying “God how will this ever work out?” Try saying, “God, I can’t wait to see how you will help me stand courageous through this!”
“The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid” Psalm 27:1. When we know nothing can take away our salvation, there is nothing else to fear. Everything else is temporary. When afraid I ask, “Will this affect my eternal salvation?”
“And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” -Romans 8:11 The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is living inside of you. I ask again, of who should we be afraid?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” -Ephesians 1:18-23
This scripture right here is what helps me stand in front of hundreds of people to compete for Miss Wisconsin, while talking about Jesus. This right here is what even helps me talk to a stranger about Jesus, knowing I will get rejected. This is what can help you every day to play in that game, go to that school, take that test, start that conversation or just the strength you need to face the everyday tasks that can so easily create so much fear in us we do not even want to walk outside into the world.
“When you boast, boast in the Lord for you are not approved if you commend yourself, but if the Lord commends you.” -2 Corinthians 10:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 1:31 “If I must boast, I will boast at what shows my weakness.” -2 Corinthians 11:30-31. You say you can’t because you’re weak. We all are. David was weak when facing Goliath. Even if you are not physically weak, there has been a point in your life that this broken world has made you weak spiritually, emotionally, or psychologically. If you tell me no, you are lying. God is saying when you trust in Him with your weakness, he won’t only make you strong, but He is saying his power is made perfect in your weakness. If you are telling God you are strong enough without Him, you are telling the very source who gave you life and who made your body and spirit in the first place.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God, he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust I him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” -Psalm 62:5-8, Psalm 62:1-2, Psalm 92:12-15 and Psalm 18:2-3 In order to find your trust in God to understand the refuge and this courage He provides, you have to pour your heart out to Him. Caleb said “…with confidence they could take possession of the land, but the other men were afraid the people were stronger than them.” – Numbers 13:30-31 “The Lord said to Joshua, I have delivered Jericho into your hands. March around the city and on the seventh day march around the city seven times blowing the trumpets. When you hear the sound, give a loud shout and the walls of the city will collapse.” -Joshua 6:2-5 “When he trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and the walls collapsed.” -Joshua 6:20 Only Caleb and Joshua were able to make it to the promise land because of their courage and trust in God. Even though the Philistines were scary and could have easily killed them, they chose to focus on God instead.
“See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” -Deuteronomy 1:21. ”Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.’” -Deuteronomy 1:29- 31 Remember the stories in the Bible how God carried those He loved with the continual reminder He gives us today to not be afraid.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.” -Deuteronomy 10:12-22 and Joshua 22:5
It is a command to fear God, walk in obedience with Him, submit to Him and to serve Him with all your heart for your own good. When we fear others and not the Lord, we are in a sense idolizing thinking that they have greater power than He does.
“Everything on earth belongs to God, he founded it all.” -Psalm 241-2 and 1 Corinthians 10:26
“For the Lord God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.’ The Lord.” -Joshua 4:23-24
God performed the miracles He did with many purposes, and one of them being that we may understand the power and might of our God, and that even in your life when it seems there is no way, He can create a way by parting the sea.
“The Lord gives victory to his anointed.” -Psalm 20:6 Joshua says to “give him the hill country the Lord promised this day. The Anakites were large and fortified, but with the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” -Joshua 14:12 Even if your hardships seem larger than what you can handle on your own and grip you frozen with fear, God promises to give victory to His anointed, His children. Victory may look difference in the eyes of the Lord than us. Many people saw Jesus’ death at the cross as defeat initially, but the victory came when he was raised from the dead. Even if you seem defeated, thinking this cannot be true because of your circumstances, God can use the hardships and death in your life to bring you and your circumstance from the dead to bring you life. Let His power defeat your fear. We do not even have to fear death itself! All we ever have to fear is God himself, and when we fear Him He looks on us as His child, giving us literally nothing to fear. “Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body.” -Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:4-5
“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” -Judges 6:12-14.
Gideon asked a question we all wonder. We all doubt. We read these stories and think “Yes, I know these are true and incredible, but where are the results and miracles in my own life?” The Lord responded, “Am I not sending you?” God would not have created you to live in this Earth if you did not have the capacity to obtain the courage from His Holy Spirit that lives inside you when you are in a believer in Jesus. He has in a sense “sent you” to live this life, knowing very well you were going to have the temptation to be paralyzed and gripped with fear. Therefore He provides us with His word to free you from the bondage of fear and chains and into his freedom to obtain courage!
The Spirit of the Lord is so powerful, it gave Samson the power to tear apart a lion with his bare hands. -Judges 14:6 “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.” -Psalm 44:3 God provides physical strength in victory as well as triumph through love and light. Even though we may not understand or know how God will provide during our hardships when we have courage, we can trust He will, and His way is best. All Israel’s surrounding nations lot their self-confidence because they realized this was from the help of our God. -Nehemiah 6:16
Esther 2:7 describes how Mordecai had a cousin who did not have a mother or father and so he brought her up, her name was Esther. Esther 2:17 says the king was attracted to Esther and won over all the other women so he set a royal crown on her head and made her Queen instead of Vashti. Esther 2:21-22 says Mordecai caught Bigthana and Teresh who were two of the king’s officers who wanted to assassinate King Xerxes. Mordecai told Queen Esther who told the king who gave credit to Mordecai. Esther 3:2 says everyone paid honor to Haman the King’s right-hand man, but Mordecai refused to kneel or worship him. Esther 3:6 says Haman conspired how to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai’s people and Mordecai himself. Esther 4:8 says Mordecai told Ester to tell the king to save the Jews. Esther 4:10-11 says Esther was scared because everyone knows if anyone approaches the king without being summoned, they will be put to death unless he extends the gold scepter and spares their life. Mordecai sent back this answer: “…For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” -Esther 4:14 “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” -Ecclesiastes 3:7
Esther could have been killed for simply approaching the king without being summoned, let alone to approach him in order to request he save her people, the Jews, from Haman’s evil scheme. The courage she had was with the help of her cousin who reassured her that God brought her to power for such a time as this. God provides people in our lives to encourage us to have the confidence needed in order to be courageous. Sometimes, we may feel alone and ultimately our courage comes from the Lord, but God loves when we are surrounded by community with the same mind set. We should also be an encouragement to others, helping them feel more confident in order to be courageous in areas of their life God calls them to be. The enemy attacks us best when we are isolated. It is so important we encourage one another with these words.
Esther 5:14 says Haman planned to have Mordecai impaled on a pole. Esther 6:1-12 says the king could not sleep one night, so he ordered the book of chronicles, the record of his reign, to be read to him. The readings reminded him of Mordecai, who saved him from his assassins. The king asked, “what honor did he get for this!” Nothing, his servant said. As this was happening, Haman happened to walk in with his request to impale Mordecai on a pole. The king asked Haman “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So, he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ The king said “Go! Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew. So, Haman robed Mordecai, and led him through the city streets. After Haman was overwhelmed with grief.
Esther 7:2-7 says the King asked Queen Esther whatever she wants, it will be given even half the kingdom. Queen Esther says to grant her life and to spare her people for they have been sold to be killed. The King asked who is he?! Esther said, Hamen! The king in a rage. Hamen begged Queen Esther for his life.Esther 8:1-6 says King Xerxes found out now Mordacai was related to Queen Ester and gave him his signet ring he was going to give to Haman and Esther appointed him in Haman’s position. The king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she said let an order be written overruling Haman who wrote to destroy the Jews. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people and family. Esther 8:11 says the king overruled and saved the Jews. Esther 9:4 says Mordecai was prominent in the palace and his reputation spread throughout the provinces. Ester has no idea when God made her the King’s wife that part of her purpose was going to be to save His people. Even if your life seems uncertain, I can promise God is at work
“Who is like me and who can challenge me?” -Jeremiah 50:19 and Job 9:19 No one compares to God that we can say we should fear more. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” -Psalm 3:5-6 and Psalm 27:3 The only way we can lie down and sleep knowing trouble and evil lurk at every corner is His peace. “So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” -Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 56:3-4 and Psalm 56:10- 11 “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.” -Isaiah 51:7 It is easy to be scared or very hurt by others. We all have been. We need to remember God’s power as opposed to human power. God is vast and infinite, and we are finite. What others see and think of you is their own judgment and much of the time not true. We need to remember only God’s judgment is perfect. When others insult you strictly to bring you down or even threaten your life, only God has the power after this life over your soul.
David says when hard pressed, “I cried to the Lord who brought me to a spacious place. Do not be afraid for God is with you as your helper. What can mortals do to me? We will have triumph over your enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than trust in humans or princes.” -Psalm 118:5-9 Paul said “no more boasting in human leaders including himself, all things are God’s including the world, life, death the present and the future.” -1 Corinthians 3:21-23 “Do not trust in people who can be taken at any time.” -Isaiah 2:22 and Proverbs 11:7 “You will be deceived if you depend on your own strength or the strength of others.” – Hosea 10:13 When we fear others, we are fearing those who are only temporary as far as being on this earth goes even though their souls live on forever either in heaven or hell. If you rely simply on the strength of others, or even your own, it will fail as the years press on. “Fear of man is a trap, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” -Proverbs 29:25
“Do not be afraid of disgrace, you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth>” -Isaiah 54:4 We may not think of fear in the sense of being scared of embarrassment, however this fear paralyzes people just as much as fear of being harmed. When if you have committed shameful acts throughout your life you are afraid of, God wipes your sin clean in Christ and His perfect love continues to drive out fear of all forms. It is healthy to temporarily feel shame and guilt to have empathy for others in how e may have hurt them, ourselves or God with our sin, but God never intended for us to live there. If you never felt shame or guilt, your heart would become hardened toward others. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline.” -2 Timothy 1:7
“Jesus went to a mountain side by himself to pray. After dawn, Jesus went out to the disciples on the lake. When they saw him, they were terrified saying “it’s a ghost!” Jesus said “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter said Lord, if it’s you have me come out on the water by you.” Jesus said to come. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink shouting “Lord, save me!” Jesus reached out his hand and said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The storm stopped and the disciples worshiped Jesus saying “Truly you are the Son of God.” -Matthew 14:23- 33, Mark 6:48-51 and John 6:18-21
When you look at the world and see the storms, every single human being in this world will be afraid. If you look to Jesus, you might still see the storm in your peripheral, but you will feel His hand supporting you through it.
Keep up your courage and you will not be lost. An angel came to Paul saying “Do not be afraid. You must stand on trial before Caesar and God has graciously given everything with you on the ship.” Keep their courage, for I have faith God will make it happen as he told me.” -Acts 27:22-25
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” -Romans 8:15
“Hope makes you bold.” -2 Corinthians 3:12
