Comfort.

It really was rather difficult to put a name on this post. I have hardly any personal thoughts this time around. Honestly, right now I barely feel worth listening to, but I know that God is always worth listening to. I've been looking up verses of comfort, and looking at verses having to do with fear. Now is a time of uncertainty and fear in my life and he lives of those I care about, but I know that God doesn't want us to fear. Moreover, if we are walking with God, we have no reason to fear. Most of these verses are from the Old Testament. Usually I'm guilty of overlooking those stuffy old books, but I realized that it's very fitting to draw comfort for fear out of them. The Israelites were constantly besieged and downtrodden by their enemies, and had plenty of reason to lose hope. But God had hope for them, and that hope is certainly good enough for my fears. So I'll share with you the scripture that I've found.

Isaiah 40:1-2 - "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Psalm 46:1-2 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"

Psalm 91:5, 9-10 - "You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day... If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent."

Proverbs 29:25 - "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."

Isaiah 41:12-13 - "Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who rage war against you sill be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'" 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 - "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (One of my favorites)

Matthew 10:29-31 - "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (another favorite)

And finally, in this hopeful season of Advent:
Isaiah 9:2 - "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."