Fear No Fear

“Let your lives be without love of money, and be content with the things you have. For He has said: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5, MEV). Giving something up. Leaving entirely. Renouncing. Abandoning completely, usually in a time of need. All of these are the meaning of forsaking. They are the opposite of what we seek to do when we love someone. Rick Astley’s famous chorus lists just that: ‘Never gonna give you up/Never gonna let you down/Never gonna run around and desert you/Never gonna make you cry/Never gonna say goodbye/Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you‘. It’s his signature song, was at the top of the charts for five weeks in the UK, and was the best selling single in 1987. It topped charts in 25 other countries as it spread. This is a sentiment that resonates with us. When we love someone, this is how we see ourselves treating them. This is the dedication we have. We don’t always make it, but God does. The Lord ALWAYS makes it. He loves us and declares that love clearly and constantly. He backs it up too. He never leaves us. Never lies to us. Never sends or does anything to hurt us. Never betrays us. Never lets us down. He is there, with everything we need, every solution, the best advice, the perfect Way, and He doesn’t walk away. He loves us too much to put down the boombox. He’s playing our song on repeat. He isn’t mad at us. He isn’t hurting us. He is the ONLY one who TRULY comforts. He IS our strong tower. He IS our refuge in times of trouble. He IS our sanctuary. Don’t be afraid. Don’t swallow a lie of resentment. Go to Him. He’s right there and He is waiting to hold you close. If we will submit and obey, if we will let Him be Lord, if we will honestly seek Him and turn to Him and embrace Him, we will never be disappointed. We can’t be. He is GOD. And He loves us.