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OPINION | BRENETTE WILDER: Do not fear

Brenette Wilder

The first two stanzas in a poem written by Liliana Kohann say this:

“What a fear has overtaken me now

A fear bigger than my heart

It is so present here

That its heartbeat I hear

Its presence takes over

everything around,

my world, my dreams,

and I… can’t be found.”

This is such a true statement. It rings true to our personal life, business, and more recently, politics.

Do you remember in Exodus 14 when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea? When they saw Pharaoh approaching from a distance, they became gripped with fear. The problem was still afar off, but it was visible to their naked eye.

Immediately, they became enslaved to fear, and the real them couldn’t be found. Their emotions surrendered in terror by the distant problem. But what if they dared to trust God?

I know it’s a stretch effort when you are about to be trampled on. However, verse 13 gave them a way out: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”

It was a different and new approach for fearless living when under attack. Moses instructed the Israelites to stand, watch, and see the wondrous ways of God.

God wanted to give them a testimony and a memory to recall whenever their backs were against the wall in the future. He wanted history to forever use their story to encourage you and I to see beyond our Pharaoh events to seeing God-saving events.

The Israelites’ victory wouldn’t be accomplished through combat, but by being a witness to what God was about to do. God knew the Israelites couldn’t defeat Pharaoh’s army, but Pharaoh’s army was no match for God.

Against God, our Pharaohs become like ants to be crushed. He will not only crush their efforts — Moses told the Israelites you will “see them no more.”

Basically, “After I am done with them you will never deal with that Pharaoh problem ever again.”

So, let’s not lose ourselves anticipating the worst. We have security in the One who chose us. The Chosen have a different path to follow, and it is called fearless living. We are held by God.

We are protected by Him. And, we have been grafted into the spiritual family through adoption. It is our Heavenly Father’s duty to help us. It is your duty to respond with dependency when Pharaoh events arise.

Brenette Wilder of Lee’s Summit, Mo., (formerly of Altheimer, Ark.), is president of Kansas City Teen Summit and blogs at wordstoinspire105953116.word-press.com.

Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles to shope@adgnewsroom. com. Please include your phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.