No Need to Fear

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  Matthew 10:28-31

There are times when the stress of life catches up to all of us and we have moments of doubt and isolation, moments when we feel alone or threatened in life.  It may be something truly serious affecting a loved one, or a struggle to make ends meet financially.  Or it may be as simple as turning on the news to hear about someone doing or saying something that really infuriates us.  Whether big or small, these threats can all strike at how we feel about ourselves, our sense of self-worth and our sense of how we matter to others.  And who among us hasn’t done or said something we later regret in an effort to reclaim that lost sense of worth?

To me this Gospel passage reminds me that no matter what happens, I matter to God and God has a place for me in His plan.  It reminds me that God will always be with us regardless of the constant changing drama and flux of the day.  His peace is always there for us if we can remember his love for us and accept his plan.  

Prayer: God, who besides you can say what today will bring us?  Who besides you can say what blessings, what unexpected events, or what challenges await us?  You know what this day brings, and we know that you will care for us and be with us through all the ups and downs we experience.  Remind us during our times of doubt that we can always place our faith and our trust in you, and that as long as our hearts are with you then we have nothing to fear.  Amen

Stephen Case-Blanchard