When I was a teacher in Sunday school,  I brought in different pieces of colored construction paper to go with the song “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” If you went to Sunday school, you probably sang it like this:

I would then hold up a piece of red construction paper and say, “Raise your hand if you have this color skin.” No one raised their hand. Then I would hold up a yellow piece of paper and say, “Raise your hand if you have this color skin.” No one raised their hand. Then I would hold a black piece of paper and say, “Raise your hand if you have this color skin.” No one raised their hand. Then I would hold up a white piece of paper and say, “Raise your hand if your skin is this color.” No one raised their hand.

Children are so smart.  We could learn so much from them.   I would tell them that they were right and that Jesus made us all the same just different shades of skin from dark to light.  Then we would sing the song again, but like this:

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world,

All the shades from dark to light, they are precious in His sight,

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Since Jesus loves the little children of the world, then I know He loves me and is with me and that I have nothing to fear.  When I was a little girl, I had a list that I called “Heather’s List of Deep Fears.” All of them, I have to say, were quite irrational. I was afraid of storms and in the spring of each year I would pack up my treasures from my room and put them in the basement to keep them safe in case our home was hit by a tornado.  I was afraid of people throwing up and I was afraid to throw up.  Sometimes the fear was paralyzing, keeping me from enjoying summer camp, sleepovers at friends, rides at the fair, or what have you.  I was afraid of bats flying into my head; not a baseball bat, but a bat that flys.  I was afraid of getting Bells Palsy and having half my face temporarily paralyzed.  I was deathly afraid of snakes.  I was afraid of the dentist.  This is just the tip of the iceberg of my list.  I think I could write a book about my fears, but it would be quite boring.   As I have grown in my faith, the Lord has faithfully helped me face these fear head on by experience.  I have lived through many storms including tornadoes close to home and typhoons while living on Guam.  I am a mother and have been thrown up on more times than I can count and I was sick with each pregnancy and threw up many times with each one. A bat did fly into my head one time and I had to have the rabies vaccines and then got Bell’s Palsy in response to the vaccines.  I lived on Guam with my husband for two years where there were 144, 000 brown tree snakes alive and well every square mile.  I had a dentist faint on top of me when taking out my wisdom teeth. Hmmmm, maybe a book wouldn’t be so boring after all :)

We certainly are living in days that are scary not only from the pandemic, but now from peaceful protesting coupled with violent rioting here in Minnesota due to the death of George Floyd.  I cannot imagine living in this world today without the hope of Jesus.  The other day I wrote that it is tempting in times like this to live in fear and let it have its way keeping us from doing what the Lord intends, keeping us from being doers of His word, keeping us from praying.  However, His word says that we are to Fear Not.  Let’s look at a few of these passages.

Isaiah 43:1-3 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Joshua 1:9 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

II Timothy 1:7

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Psalm 23:4 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

John 14:27 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Psalm 56:3-4 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

Who will be with you when facing trials of many kinds? Who will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with His righteous right hand? Who is with you wherever you go? Who has given you a spirit of love and self-control? Who is with you as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Who grants you peace? Who do you trust? These questions are all answered in one person and that is in the person of Jesus Christ, the hope of the world, our Savior. In Him, we have nothing to fear, absolutely nothing. Without Him, we have everything to fear.

Don’t let fear keep you from doing and praying.  In Christ, you have been equipped for every good work and therefore can do anything.  You can peacefully protest, give financially, serve food, purchase groceries, rebuild burned buildings, share your faith, pray for one another, talk about hard things without fear, knowing that you are serving the Lord and not men. 

Blessings to you,

Heather

Here are the songs:

 “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”