Journeying with Resurrected Jesus in Fear

Gratitude and fear can't go together, right? I mean, that doesn't even make sense. Fear brings up all kinds of negative emotion. Often, it stops me from doing things I want to do... I need to do. It will push and push until I reach a breaking point.

Maybe that's the point.

Today, I want to practice a different kind of gratitude. I want to thank God for the lessons I've learned from fear. Isaiah 41:10 says, "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."

When fear causes me to panic a bit and stop, maybe God is inviting me to see Him more clearly, to trust His grip more deeply, and to learn to stand more confidently.

Listening to our fears and learning from them is different from being afraid. So, can we be thankful for fear? Better yet, can we be thankful for the way God is present in our fears and the way He teaches us who He is in this middle of them?

What is something you know about who God is because of a fear you've faced with Him? Aren't you grateful?

Jesus, thank you for journeying with us. Sometimes we don't recognize You, but we believe You are here. There are times when we are sad, disappointed, and even a little lost in this world, because the expectations of our humanity get in the way. When You make yourself very evident, though, our hearts burn within us. Will you help us to recognize that and trust it. Your presence can make us brave. Today, we commit ourselves to You. We want to be transformed by Your presence in our lives and Your power in our bodies. We belong to You, and that Truth makes us glad. Amen.