Sometimes we get afraid of something. There can be a fear of losing a family member, fear of death or prosecution, losing a job, afraid of retirement...
My vyande vertrap my die hele dag, want baie veg teen my in hoogmoed.( Psalms 56:3 )
You are not the only one who’s afraid. In fact, every single person on Earth is afraid of something at one moment in life or at another.
At first, lets understand that we are not afraid of what has happened in the past, not afraid of what is happening right this very moment. We are afraid of what may happen in the future - in a second, hour, month or year from now.
And who is in charge of your future how you see it now? Think of it - is it your boss who may fire you? Is it the doctor who’s trying to save your family member from death? Is it your enemy that is trying to kill you? Is it you in control of your own future and the step you’re taking can cause deadly consequences?
In reality, no one can control their future, and neither can you. Here is what Jesus tells about a rich man who was trying to secure his future by saving an abundant amount of grains in his barns.
Maar God het aan hom gesê: Jou dwaas, in hierdie nag sal hulle jou siel van jou afeis; en wat jy gereedgemaak het, wie s'n sal dit wees?( Lukas 12:20 )
However, you do control who you’re walking with into the future. You can walk there with God, or without God.
Whatever led you throughout your life until now, resulting in the fear - leave it alone. And walk with God, away from the darkness of your past.
If you were lucky enough to have a father, remember how safe and protected you felt with him when you were a little kid. When he held your hand and walked with you, you felt safe and joyful.
Now you have your heavenly father who created you, deeply loves you, who can walk with you from now on.
Maar nou, HERE, U is ons Vader; ons is die klei, en U is ons Formeerder, en ons almal is die werk van u hand.( Jesaja 64:8 )
And he is far more powerful and mighty than anyone else on Earth.
voor Hom wat die noorde uitspan oor die chaos, wat die aarde ophang oor 'n niks; wat die waters saambind in sy wolke sonder dat die wolkgevaarte daaronder skeur; wat die gesig van die troon toehou deurdat Hy sy wolk daaroor uitsprei. Hy het 'n kring afgetrek oor die watervlakte tot waar lig in duisternis eindig. Die pilare van die hemel wankel en staan verstom weens sy dreiging. Deur sy krag bring Hy die see in beroering, en deur sy verstand verpletter Hy Rahab. Deur sy asem word die hemel helder; sy hand het die vinnige slang deurboor. Kyk, dit is maar die uitlopers van sy weë, en wat 'n fluisterwoord hoor ons maar van Hom! Wie sou dan die donder van sy magtige dade verstaan?( Job 26:7-14 )
Let your father lead your life. Let him take care of your future. If you remember that joyful feeling when you were a kid surrounded by parents, bring it back. Become a kid again who let parents take care of his worries.
Wees nie bevrees nie, want Ek is met jou; kyk nie angstig rond nie, want Ek is jou God. Ek versterk jou, ook help Ek jou, ook ondersteun Ek jou met my reddende regterhand.( Jesaja 41:10 )
If we get to know God more, it'll help us understand his power. Here is how apostle John describes him.
En dit is die verkondiging wat ons van Hom gehoor het en aan julle verkondig: God is lig, en geen duisternis is in Hom nie.( 1 Johannes 1:5 )
En die lig skyn in die duisternis, en die duisternis het dit nie oorweldig nie.( Johannes 1:5 )
We also hear the same from Jesus, who is the true image of the invisible God.
En Jesus het weer met hulle gespreek en gesê: Ek is die lig van die wêreld; wie My volg, sal sekerlik nie in die duisternis wandel nie, maar sal die lig van die lewe hê.( Johannes 8:12 )
When you leave the darkness and walk with God, ask yourself - can you shine the same way as your father does?
The light of our father and his son Jesus is not a usual light. The lights we know of are powered by electricity, from a wax candle or a fire wood... But the light of our father God is powered by love.
Hy wat nie liefhet nie, het God nie geken nie, want God is liefde.( 1 Johannes 4:8 )
To take the victory over the enemies of this world, Jesus used the weapon that can’t be defeated. That weapon is love.
Toe het hulle in sy aangesig gespuug en Hom met die vuis geslaan,( Matteus 26:67 )
En Jesus sê: Vader, vergeef hulle, want hulle weet nie wat hulle doen nie. En hulle het sy klere verdeel en die lot daaroor gewerp.( Lukas 23:34 )
Dit het Ek vir julle gesê, dat julle in My vrede kan hê. In die wêreld sal julle verdrukking hê; maar hou goeie moed, Ek het die wêreld oorwin.( Johannes 16:33 )
Therefore, take courage and love. Love God, your family, your neighbors and your enemies. Do not forget about yourself - love yourself as you are, with all your failures, fears and imperfections.
'n Nuwe gebod gee Ek julle, dat julle mekaar moet liefhê; soos Ek julle liefgehad het, moet julle ook mekaar liefhê.( Johannes 13:34 )
And when there is love, there is no fear, for love drives out fear.
Daar is geen vrees in die liefde nie; maar die volmaakte liefde dryf die vrees buite, want die vrees sluit straf in, en hy wat vrees, het nie volmaak geword in die liefde nie.( 1 Johannes 4:18 )
We are all humans, with our weaknesses and fears. We are easily lost in our life without the light of love.
The light leaves no darkness. As we love our enemies, the light reaches them and casts away the all darkness from them.
As jou vyand honger het, gee hom brood om te eet; en as hy dors het, gee hom water om te drink.( Spreuke 25:21 )
Even our enemies can love. But they could be left in darkness by someone bullying them in their childhood, or by parents or friends who left them, or by some internal insecurity that left them no place in this world and pushed to the darkness.
Use your love towards your enemies, put your sword back.
Toe sê Jesus vir hom: Sit jou swaard in sy plek terug; want almal wat die swaard neem, sal deur die swaard vergaan.( Matteus 26:52 )
Use your new undefeatable weapon - love. Go ahead and shine in this world where fearful darkness has no place to hide. For you are not alone, never alone.
Have faith, leave doubts behind. For if God is with you, who can be against you?
Elke wapen wat teen jou gesmee word, sal niks uitrig nie; en elke tong wat teen jou opstaan in die gereg, sal jy weerlê. Dit is die erfdeel van die knegte van die HERE en hulle geregtigheid wat uit My is, spreek die HERE.( Jesaja 54:17 )