Be Not Afraid

Someone asked me the other day, “What do you sense God is saying to you now? These words came to me without hesitation: “Be not afraid.” Which puzzled me, as I had not been thinking those words (except for the angels’ song). They came so swiftly I was surprised.

Was it because of the shootings that had just happened at the NewTown school? Or the underlying sense of fear that seems to rule among us? Some specific fears of my own about getting older? Of losing something? Was it dread of what might come on our world?

Here are some salutary words from the late Irish poet/philosopher John O’Donohue:

“Fear is the force of greatest falsification in life. It makes what is real seem unreal, and makes what is unreal seem real.”

A reminder . . . of Who is real – which led me to this prayer conversation with the Lord.

BE NOT AFRAID

What do you fear?

Be not afraid

Of being alone – for I am with you

Of what may come – for I go before you

Of losing your faculties and being useless – I have worked through your strengths.

I will work through your weakness.

Of life becoming empty and repetitive –I will fill all things with my presence

Of dying – I have been there and come back, and when the time comes I will be there to show you the way.

Thank You, Lord. Please keep reminding me.

Leighton Ford