Fear No Fear

“Let us then come with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, MEV). At this time of the rolling year, our thoughts turn to everything that has not gone as planned. This fuels our resolutions as we head into the new year. About thirty years ago I made a resolution: I wasn’t going to make any more resolutions. And I’ve stuck to it. It’s the only one I ever stuck to the way I intended when I made it. Resolutions are well-intentioned, but they seem to me to be like throwing the rigging over the side of your ship when it’s sinking. Too little, too late. Exercise equipment sells more in January than any other month of the year. Everyone trying to turn back the clock on their decisions over the holiday seasons – and it’s cross-cultural, not just the typical westerners. What is the better plan then as we end one year and enter the next? God’s plan, of course! He made a Way open so that we could go to Him when we need. According to the Word, it doesn’t matter WHAT we need. We can go to Him. If we really need it, He will provide it (Matthew 6:31-35). If it’s good for us and not simply feeding out lusts and passions, He will provide it (James 4:3). If we ask for that which is according to His will, He will provide it (1 John 5:14). He provides our NEEDS when we need them. He looks out for us and gives us good things (James 1:17) – according to His plan, His timing, His desires, and so that it meshes well with everything else going on. When we ask for that which brings God glory, He will provide it (Matthew 5:16). I don’t need resolutions. I need guidance, reliance, and supply. God gives me all of those things. He made a way so that we can come directly to Him to ask for what we need AND THEN listen to His teaching, guidance, correction, and instructions AND THEN submit in humble obedience to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Great I AM. It is SO NICE not to have to panic, worry, embrace anxiety, or get depressed about life or my choices. I can repent of the bad ones and renew my thinking to HIS moral character and opinion on any given thing (Romans 12:2; 1 John 1:9). I can celebrate His glory, grace, mercy, and guidance for the good ones and continue to lean into what He has to say about how to live life WITHOUT WORRY (Matthew 6:33). He tells us He does these things. He demonstrates in His Word that He does these things. He gives us CONFIDENCE that He DOES these things! He FREES us from the negative – no matter WHAT the situation looks like, we KNOW that we KNOW that we KNOW that HE is in charge, HE has us, and HE will let us know what to do, when to do it, and how. What a GREAT and MERCIFUL Father! Not just at the turn of the year, but EVERY year ALL YEAR LONG!