“Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1:17-19

            There are different kinds of fear.  Some fear is good because it puts our body into a state of preparedness, getting ready for what we’re going to face (like being on high alert).

            In the Bible, God told people not to be afraid because that fear could cause them to run away and not finish the task God called them to.

            God wants us to know the consequences, face reality and move ahead.  As He told Jeremiah, God doesn’t want our fear to “overcome” us.

            Warriors like Moses and Joshua, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah and even young mothers like Mary were all told to not be afraid and the comfort from all of that was simply God saying “I will be with you.”  God’s presence by our side means we are going in a direction God is calling us.  If we’re straying from God and going our own way, we should be afraid. 

            If He’s not with us, we’re doomed.