There will never be a lack of bad news to hear. Whether it be from the news, word of mouth, or social media. There is and always will be a plethora of scary and heartbreaking events going on in the world. Some events affect people more directly than others, but the recent threats of violence that have been heard on the news lately can cause a heart to shudder and worry.
Israel (my husband) and I have both been meditating on what the “Fear of the Lord” means. Many times throughout scripture it says that the Lord wants us not to fear man but to fear the Lord. What does that mean? How can we put that into practice? As I was reading Isaiah this week I read a verse that spoke directly to what has been on my heart. God is speaking to Isaiah and instructs him not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy’, concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:12-13)
Now God was not saying that destruction would not come, in fact just verses before He warns that the Assyrians will invade the land of the Israelites and bring destruction because of the Israelites disobedience. Yet He still tells Isaiah not to fear. Not be be afraid of threats. Not to let his heart be troubled. Just those few phrases bring peace to my heart. Isaiah’s response is absolutely beautiful and it makes my heart yearn to respond to the Lord in the same way: “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait on the Lord, who hides His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope in Him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.” (8:16-18)
At IMM so many of our videos are translated into the languages of Iran, Ukraine, Russia and the Arab speaking world. These countries show up on the news over and over again and never seem to get a break from suffering. But through the videos and the gospel message we want them to know what it means to fear the Lord. Yes, they are surrounded by conspiracies, threats and troubles. But our heart is that the women of Iran will look to the Lord of Hosts and honour Him as Holy. That the Ukrainians will not fear man but will fear the Lord above all else. That the Russians will know God as their dread and will answer to Him alone. Above all, may God convict each and every one of our hearts and show us ways that we cause fear of man to control us. May we honour God as Holy, may we fear Him and let Him be our dread. May we all respond to the Lord’s voice with the same humility as Isaiah, “And I will wait on the Lord…I will hope in Him…here am I…”