Be Strong! Fear Not!

In my journey with the Lord, I have often wondered about the Lord’s call in our lives to be strong and not be afraid. Two implications from these two essential truths from God’s Word are that followers of Jesus will struggle with spiritual weaknesses, and we will experience times of intense fear. The quandary for me is that when facing our spiritual weakness or fear, the Lord simply says, “Don’t!” I mean, how helpful is that?

The prophet Haggai was sent to the people of Judah who had returned to the land after the Babylonian Captivity. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, the temple foundation laid, and the personal homes built and “paneled” (Haggai 1:4). In their self-focus, the people had not prioritized the rebuilding of the temple. Their pursuit of the Lord was weak, and they were struggling with fear from the persecution and attack of their neighboring nations. What is happening in Israel today is not a new thing. God’s chosen people have experienced hatred and terror throughout their history. Those who have perpetrated such evil upon Israel have experienced what God promised Abraham, the father of the nation, over 4000 years ago. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you” (Genesis 12:3). The historical record in the Bible and the record of modern history bears out this faithful promise of God!

Haggai’s words in Haggai 2:4-5 are one of those seemingly “unhelpful” challenges to “be strong” and “fear not” given by God.

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not (ESV).

I say “seemingly” because the words surrounding these two truths are what make “be strong” and “fear not” powerfully transformative in the lives of those who want to follow the Lord. God’s invitation to “be strong” is followed by the empowering truth, “for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts.” Our Lord’s invitation to “be strong” is not some self-help motivational “you can do this!” Let us never forget that spiritual strength comes only when His people apprehend that He is always present. We are not on our own in our weakness. In fact, like the Apostle Paul, “when we are weak, He is strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9,10, ESV).

God’s invitation to “fear not” is not some self-help power-of-positive thinking cliché! No, this invitation is followed by the powerful truth that God keeps His promises. The covenant (contract or promise) He makes with His people, He is faithful to complete. Haggai reminds the people that the covenant that He made with Israel when they were delivered from Egyptian slavery included the promise of His Spirit being with them. Though they broke the contract, He did not and will not!

Let us never forget that His presence in our lives makes us strong and the promise of His indwelling Spirit in our lives defeats the power of fear in our circumstances. Though we will at times feel weak and feel fear, His permanent presence and promises make us strong and deflate the power of fear’s control when facing disappointing circumstances.

May we not just know that He is present, but may we notice His presence! May we not just know that He is faithful to His promises, but may His faithfulness deflate our fears by the power of His Spirit!

As the Apostle Paul encourage Timothy, his son in the faith, may we believe His promise.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:6-7, ESV).

Dr. David P. Ley is the President of Alaska Bible College.