It’s been a difficult week. Travel plans have changed, schools have gone online, the stock market has dropped, and we are worried, of all things, about whether or not we will be able to buy toilet paper.

This is a strange and unprecedented cultural moment—one that can and is eliciting fear in many. As Christians, it’s good to remember that God’s Word speaks frequently about fear. Throughout Scripture God instructs his people to “fear not.” But, when God tells his people to not be afraid, he also tells us why we need not fear—and it’s almost always because he is with us.

Joshua 1:9b encourages us, “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.’

Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

As a child, if a nightmare woke me up, I would get out of bed and run into my parent’s room. My mom would snuggle me in her arms, speak truth over my fears, and then walk me back to my room with the assurance that she was “just in the other room.” I knew what to do and where to go when I was afraid.

As adults, we still need to know what to do and where to turn when fears come. In this month’s featured article, Kristen Wetherell takes us to Psalm 34 to learn from David. Not surprisingly, the answer is to get up, run to your heavenly Father, let him take you in his arms, speak his Word of truth to you, and remind you that he is always with you.

Fear not, friend, our God is with us.

With much love,