“Be careful, keep calm, and do not be afraid.” Sound like instructions a mom might utter today? Maybe.
But that quote is actually from the book of Isaiah.
In this particular passage, we learn the Lord is preparing his people for a very rough road ahead. He doesn’t promise them quick or easy or enjoyable. In fact, he is briefing them with a dose of reality. He also tells them how to handle this news: “Be careful, keep calm and do not be afraid.”
He explains the way to follow those instructions: stand firm in your faith.
In 7:9b he speaks words that must have made them shutter: “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
If you, like me, have lived a life with lots of lessons, you know you will never make it on your own. Can you recall a time where you pondered, how might I endure this without God? I can think of several in just a few seconds.
I bet you too have had experiences where you knew if you hadn’t relied on God, you doubted you would have ever made it. Cancer treatment was one for me. When I wanted to curl up and give up, I asked God for the strength to just get through one more day. He always showed up. He always provided what I needed for the day.
Be careful. Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to be careful what we dwell on. A great piece of advice when we are facing a giant challenge. Only dwell on the positives. What’s true, noble, righteous, praiseworthy, admirable, and lovely.
The children’s song comes to mind. Be careful little mind what you think. Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear. Be careful what you let into your life.
Keep calm. The enemy likes to rattle us, get us fired up, and then coax us to act in haste. Remember how he tempted Jesus? He waited until the Lord was exhausted, famished and bone-weary. He knows humans tend to be very weak spiritually when we are weak physically and mentally. We need to try to remain calm. Not give into emotions, like frustration, hurt, and anger. Not let tired minds speak through weak lips, things that should never be said. Am I the only one who has let my physical state dictate my mental state? And then spewed that onto unsuspecting others? Ouch! But Jesus left us an advisor, the Holy Spirit, who graciously gives gifts. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit can help us when our flesh or mind, or both, are weak.
And do not be afraid. This is a doozy. Fear, a little, four-letter word that can control us. It’s not the concern of what has happened, but the terror of what-if? And that thought likes to get stuck on repeat, testing us and taxing us like none other. But we really don’t need to be afraid. We do not have to allow that broken record to play on repeat. Why? Jesus.
When he came, he carried it all. Our dumb decisions. Our rebellious attitude. The pain of our world. He took it all. He is the author and perfector of our faith. He will make a way. When we don’t know what to do, we can carry it all to him. He promises wisdom when we ask. He promises nothing is too insignificant for him. Maybe like me, you underutilize this way too often. But we can always change our habits. He’ll supply those needs too!
When we practice the wisdom found in Isaiah, our circumstance don’t necessarily change, but our response certainly does. When we keep calm and do not fear, we will experience the promise found at the end of Philippians 4:9, “And the God of peace will be with you.”
Will you join me in asking him for just that?
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your instruction on how to do life. You know this world is full of things that make humans worry. Yet you assure us we don’t need to worry. Please help me focus my thoughts on the positive, to stay calm even when I want to kick and scream. Help me to not be afraid. Build my faith as I journey through life. Let me cling to you. Lord, I want your peace, please help me practice habits to help bring that peace into my life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.