Do Not Fear

March 14 – Do Not Fear – How Fearing God Leads to Life

Read Psalm 112

When my husband and I decided to take the opportunity we were given and move to Germany with our two kids for a year, I was fairly uncertain. Because there’s a lot of scary in it. Here’s why we decided to do it anyway.

You see, much of my life has been dictated by the wrong kind of fear.

Like the fear of being alone that convinced me to give in to crazy forms of peer-pressure. Or the fear of a certain kind of illness that told me to never let my kids go to Chuck E. Cheese (okay, still working on that one) or on certain carnival rides.

For a lot of years, I allowed the feeling called afraid to motivate how I responded to opportunities. I missed out on living.

Tragically, I made my kids miss out on things of life that could have helped them grow and enjoy life more. So when we got the chance to live overseas and face the scary of all that it entails, my husband and I agreed we wanted the crazy and scary of the life God had offered more than we wanted the safe and secure of what we already had.

I believe this is the beginning of learning how to fear God.

There is a certain kind of afraid, that if we find it, and we don’t let go, will actually lead us into life rather than keep us from it. It’s called the fear of God. We’ve been talking about it here for two weeks now.

I did a little word study on the word fear, hoping I would find that the two words means two different things. But, alas, I had no such luck. That word fear, it means the exact same thing in both instances.

It’s the Hebrew word yare, and it means affright, be make afraid, dreadful, put in fearful reverence. So, if we put the two verses and the one meaning together, we might come up with something like this:

The person who is afraid of Almighty God will not be afraid of anything else.

And here’s where it starts to make sense. You see, if we take Almighty God for Who He is, trusting and believing that He is in fact all-powerful, all-knowing and able to do whatever He pleases, then we have no room left for the kind of fear that makes me miss out on living.

And we only leave room for real life. Unafraid.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. You can get it here Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 13 – Do Not Fear – What Unafraid Does

Read Acts 16:11-40

Paul and Silas were guilty of spreading the truth about life through Jesus Christ. They set a slave girl free from a tormenting demon (who also happened to be annoying Paul), thus spreading Jesus’ Good News by virtue of a miracle. They also used words to spread the news of real life.

That’s what got them arrested. Telling the truth about Jesus Christ and the life He came to give. The kind of life that lives unbound by “afraid.”

For Paul and Silas, though, that meant bonds of a different kind.

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. (H)e put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks (v24).

Somehow the freedom of “unafraid” put them in chains in the middle of a deep, dark cell.

So they had a worship service.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God . . . (25).

Wait! What? A worship service?! Yep, you read that correctly. Paul and Silas found themselves unchained by fear yet bound by chains for living the unafraid life, so they started singing praise to God.

That’s when “afraid” stepped in for the prison guard. Their praise shook the earth. (I like to think it was God stomping His feet to the beat of the tunes.) The chains on their bodies fell off even as their hearts sang, unbound and unafraid.

When the jailer saw the freedom of his two high-profile prisoners, his fear stepped up like a monster in a cave, and he picked up his sword to end his own life. “Afraid” called him out, and he buckled.

But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here (v28)!”

The jailer fell trembling, even as Paul and Silas helped him see the only right place to put fear. On the One True God Who calls thunder right out of thin air and breaks chains like tiny pieces of thread.

Right there and then, that prison guard took all his fear, and He transferred it to the One on Whom it belonged.

The contrast intrigues me in this story. Paul and Silas, who should have been the afraid ones, feared God so completely that they were able to sing. Meanwhile, the jailer, who should have been resting on his laurels, ended up falling down terrified as a result of Paul’s and Silas’ “unafraid”.

That’s what “unafraid” does. It points people to the One Who deserves the fear. It helps people really live.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. You can get it here Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 12 – Do Not Fear – The Jesus-Inspired Unafraid

Read Acts 4

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (v13).

They’d spent three years walking with, hanging with, getting to know Jesus the Christ. And now, by virtue of His death and resurrection, His Spirit was living inside of Peter and John.

The same Peter who had cowered at the bonfire to the little servant girl’s questions while Jesus suffered inside, heading to His crucifixion. The same John who’d quietly followed Him and called Him Rabbi.

They had become life-givers by the name of Jesus Christ. Bringing complete healing to a 40-something crippled-from-birth man (3:16) and downright boldness to the priests’ questioning.

Peter and John not only proclaimed Jesus Christ’s name, they lived by it. And it made all the difference.

Their time with Him, His life in them, had transformed them into unafraid people the likes of which this world has not known since. For they feared Him and Him only.

No fear of the powers that be. Jesus was their King.

No fear of prisons or beatings. Jesus Christ the Messiah had conquered death.

No fear of speaking out against the injustice of the religious leaders. Jesus makes all things new.

And they were no exception. Indeed, He had made Peter and John new, as well.

That’s how they were able to stand in front of those priests and leaders and the temple guard and say what they did. It’s how they were able to pray so boldly and ask for even more strength to heal in Jesus’ name (v29), when they could have just asked for the persecution to stop.

That’s how thousands of people came to know the God Who Really Lives.

When Peter and John spent time with Jesus, their afraid flew out the window. God used them to display real life unafraid so powerfully that not even the Sadducees could deny it.

The same can be true of us. When we know Jesus that well, spend time with Him that willingly, we cannot help but find our own lives. Unafraid.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. You can get it here Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 11 – Do Not Fear – Unafriad Unshaken

Read Psalm 91

Part of the afraid that I’ve always hidden behind was the fear of seeing something bad happen. Like a really bad car accident. Or a fist-fight. Or an old lady falling off her bike.

I really have no explanation for this fear. Other than an anxiety disorder that, if left unmedicated, has me making my husband check the garage door five times before we kiss good night. And constantly checking the ceilings for spiders.

That’s why I always struggled with the words in Psalm 91, where the writer says

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (v7).

I don’t want none of that! No desire to have hundreds and thousands falling all around me. I don’t want to see it. No, thanks. I mean, can’t I just avoid everyone’s falling altogether?

But here’s the thing I am learning about unafraid: it is not shaken by anything. It does not worry. Ever. Not even about what it might see. Because it has no reason to. Life inside the unafraid holds no room for fearing things like what might happen. Or what I might see happen. Because all of its fear is properly placed in the One Who will never fail it. The One Who can handle all that fear and will only give what is good. Unafraid has no place for anxious “what will I do if’s” because it hides inside “I trust the One Who is already there.” The One Who knew what would happen. Saw it all before it did. And still, He hides me in His great big shadow.

This is the life inside of unafraid. The life I want to live for the rest of my days.

It’s the way to real life. Trusting the only One worthy of all my fear.

Bria Wasson

March 10 – Do Not Fear – When God Showed Up Inside The Unafriad

Read Daniel 3:1-30

What they did not see were the details.

O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand . . . (Daniel 3:16-17)

Their fear of God led to their unafraid declaration to the king of the land. Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood firm on what they hoped for, they were able to walk, unafraid, right through the furious flames of a furnace.

Their God-fearing faith made them conquer flames and quench fury.

We find fury throughout this story of three men’s unafraid.  Their refusal to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s huge trophy made him furious (v13).  Later, their immovable stance filled the king with such fury that his entire countenance changed (v19).  And then there is the fire.  The flames so furious they killed any and all who even came close.  Any and all, that is, but our three heroes of faith.

Dropped into a raging fire because of a tyrant’s raging jealousy, these three knew that God would take care of them.  They knew He would come to their rescue, whether on this side of eternity or the other.  And so they stood unafraid, unwilling to forsake the God they served.

But even if he does not . . . we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (v18).

Because they knew that their God was the only One worth fearing.

I wonder if their unafraid wavered when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace seven times hotter.  I wonder if their stomachs turned a little bit when they were tied up.  Did they wonder why God had not rescued them from the heat?

I don’t know.  I do know this, however: Shadrach’s, Meshach’s and Abednego’s unafraid ended in two miracles such as one cannot dispute. First, they remained untouched by the fury of the flames. Secondly, King Nebuchadnezzar praised the One True God because of it.

Even as they fell into the furious flames, the God they feared met them inside. He rescued them from the fury and then used them to quench it.

Unafraid faith extinguishes fires of all kinds.  Sure, it might enrage the fury of some.  But faith that chooses to see like God sees quenches the fury inside that terrifies us and make us want to run the other way.  When we live with certainty of what we do not see, we live unafraid. And God meets us there.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 9 – Do Not Fear – What We Need to See to Live Unafraid

Read Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah knew all that he needed to know. He had all he needed.

“… say whatever I command you (v8).”

Called to speak God’s message, all Jeremiah needed was communion with Him. All He needed to know was how to listen to God and do what He asked. Speak the words He gave him.

So much of this story deals with Jeremiah’s physical senses. What he saw. What he spoke. And that limited perspective is what fed his fears. Because of what he thought he didn’t know how to do. (See verse 6.)

Jeremiah’s calling was not an easy one by any means. He had to tell his own people about God’s impending judgment. He was commanded to call his own family out on their wicked ways. No easy task from anyone’s perspective this side of heaven. It provided a lot of fodder for afraid.

But God had a plan that involved fear of a completely different kind. God was calling Jeremiah to life. Unafraid. Truly, all he needed to fear was God Almighty.

I think it’s funny that Jeremiah’s first response to God’s call included the words, “Ah, Sovereign LORD.” Because, really, if God is Sovereign, then Jeremiah had nothing to dispute.

How many times do we do the same thing. God calls us to obey Him in a certain way — maybe to speak His truth at work when we know it will only bring ridicule — and we know that He is almighty and sovereign, but our senses don’t agree. So we dispute His plan and argue against His choosing us. Because it’s scary. Because, as far as we can tell, we are not properly equipped and we have every reason to be afraid. Because from our perspective, our co-worker or even our pastor would do a much better job.

But all Jeremiah needed, and all we need, for unafraid was to trust what God could see. To look to Him and Him alone.

To prove His point, God asked what Jeremiah saw. That’s when he said something like, “I shaqad a shaqed.” And the words he spoke sounded like I see seeing. For, the almond tree he saw had a name that sounded just like the Hebrew word for watching.

And when he spoke the words, he knew God was watching, backing up His every word. Every stroke of Jeremiah’s vocal chords.

Trusting God’s watching, His always almond-tree-I-will-stick-with-you-and-will-be-all-you-need-to-fear. Because He was enough for Jeremiah, and He is enough for us. Indeed, trusting and fearing God alone is the only way to really live. Unafraid.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 8 – Do Not Fear – What Elisha Saw

Read 2 Kings 6:8-23

What Elisha knew was that God outnumbered the Aramean army any day of the week.

Those who are with us are more than those who are with them (v16).

His first reaction when the servant asked, What shall we do?! was Do not be afraid.

Oh, that I might react like that. When kings and chariots seem to outnumber. When germs and sickness look like they might win. When people who are different than me approach and ask for help I don’t know how to give. When cancer looks like it will win the fight. May I respond with those four words when my kids freak out and ask what we should do.

Do not be afraid!

He stood so still, his heart so calm because Elisha was privy to what his servant could not see. His faith saw what his servant could not. And that faith brought Elisha real life. Unafraid.

It brought his servant that kind of “unafraid”, too.

O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.

Elisha knew that even though the Aramean king and his men and his horses appeared to be strong in number, the army of God stood at the ready, surrounding him and the people of God.

I wonder what it would be like to see with those kind of eyes. To look at the scary and see its defeat. What might we live like if we could see all that we fear as Elisha saw the enemy?

Perhaps we would face adversity more strongly. Perhaps when the doctor calls with bad news from a test, we might see God’s army, look for His fire chariots fighting for us, surrounding what scares us, calling it into submission to His will and His plan.

That’s what He did for Elisha and for the people of Israel. He struck their enemy with blindness and forced them into submission. Then he showered them with mercy and brought peace with His own kind of fear.

*I’ve written a short e-book on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 7 – Do Not Fear – When Unafraid Does Impossible

Read Matthew 14

Jesus needed time alone. He’d gotten some rough news and needed time to process. So He sent the disciples across the lake, intending to meet up with them later. Then He, went up on a mountainside by himself to pray (v23).

No doubt, it was scary for the disciples that night. With the wind against the boat as it cut through the water in the dark. The disciples had seen Jesus make a feast out of almost nothing just hours before. They’d heard the news, too, that His cousin was dead, the one who’d baptized Jesus Himself. I imagine their hearts were about as tumultuous as the wind-battered water while they rowed across that lake, buffeted by waves and harsh wind.

So when the walking-on-top-of-water-Jesus spoke from under the cloak of night’s darkness, it’s probably safe to assume another type of waves buffeted the disciples’ spirits. Waves of fear-filled adrenaline.

I love Jesus’ immediate response to the disciples’ afraid.

Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid (v27).

He knew they had a lot going on. A lot to fear. So Jesus immediately dispelled it and spoke His Presence right into theirs.

You see, when Jesus is near, fear holds no authority. When He enters the picture, He offers the choice to take misplaced fear and give it to Him. It’s the only way fear can bring forth life.

Peter knows this, so he speaks up from his Jesus-inspired courage.

Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water (v28).

And that’s when impossible happens. It’s when unafraid walks on water and sends fear diving straight to the bottom of the sea of afraid.

It works, too. Peter steps out unafraid, and walks toward Jesus, right on top of water. Straight through the wind. Until one flash of distraction moves his eyes back to his previously misplaced fear.

(W)hen he saw the wind, he was afraid . . . (v30)

And Peter started to sink.

Because the only way to do the impossible unafraid is to fix our eyes, and every ounce of our fear, unmoving, on the One Who holds life in His very hand.

The One Who died, conquered death and its fear, so that you and I could know real life. Unafraid.

*I’ve written a short ebook on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 6 – Do Not Fear – How Life Unafraid Leads to More Life

Read Daniel 6:1-28

When Daniel’s jealous enemies got the king to make an edict against worshiping the One True God, they were not trying to turn him into a pagan. In fact, their intention was quite the opposite. They wanted to fault him for his faithfulness, because they knew that his faith was immovable. His righteousness that came by faith in Almighty God. Because day after day, Daniel served his God. Unafraid. And they didn’t like it one little bit.

So for Daniel, it might have appeared that his faith brought him trouble when the decree was made. Had Daniel not kept his focus clear, fear might well have taken over. Afraid could have easily bound him up and crushed him before one of those lions even touched him.

But Daniel’s fear was where it belonged. In the One True God. So he continued to see through the faith eyes God had given him. He continued, unafraid, to go before God, trusting Him wholly.

It was King Darius who found himself bound with fear. Afraid for his friend, he was unable to sleep or eat.

You see, Daniel’s properly place fear led the king to an unafraid life of his own. It led him to issue a decree for a Gentile nation to fear Him as well.

People must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end (v26).

And so God brought glory to Himself through Daniel’s unafraid.

And real life, unbound by afraid, brought more life and true freedom.

Sometimes, God works the same way with us. He uses our unafraid, unshaken living to bring others to Himself. When we stare misplaced fear down, others notice our genuine unruffled faith and see God at work in us. When we face the uncertainty of shifting finances, or the impending death of a loved one, our fear in God shines through in ways we could never orchestrate on our own. And as we live inside the unafraid, others want it, too.

*I’ve written a short ebook on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Next week, I’ll offer it when I launch my new personal blog (www.BriannaRWasson.com), but you can get it here right now. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson

March 5 – Do Not Fear – Seven Words for Unafraid

Hiding for fear. That’s how we find Gideon when we meet him in Judges 6. Afraid.
Understandably so. Fear weaves through his story like thread in a quilt.
The Midianites had bullied Gideon’s people into hiding after stealing their livelihood for seven straight years. The Israelites had spent seven years victimized and laying low, merely surviving for fear and afraid.
Then God showed up with seven words of life and unafraid. He called Gideon to more than mere survival, bidding him to place his fear in Him, the only One deserving.

The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.

Six more words, and the charge was complete.

Go in the strength you have . . . (v14)

If we take a step back and look into that winepress, we see a scared little boy hiding from a big bully.

But Lord . . . (m)y clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family (v15).

God saw something much different, though.  He saw a man in whom He could display His own strength. A mighty God-made-warrior chosen from the least and the weakest. Called to show off His own power and might.

Isn’t it just like God to call that man to unafraid? Isn’t is just like Him to name him a

Mighty warrior?

Gideon’s job was no easy feat. Calling his own father out for idolatrous acts. He could have been ridiculed, ostracized, not to mention killed, and by his own family, if he’d been caught tearing down Baal’s altar. (See verse 27.)

That’s why God started with those seven words. Declaring the truth of Gideon’s identity. Revealing the peace on which he could stand. The wholeness of God in all of His might and His fear-worthiness.

In His infinite wisdom and grace, Almighty God bestowed on Gideon the truth He saw.

I am with you, Gideon.

Therefore, you are a mighty warrior, full of strength.

And God’s spoken word moved Gideon from helpless victim hiding out in a pit to valiant soldier tearing down false gods (vv 25-29), conquering enemies in His name (Judges 7).

The same is true for us today.  Just like with Gideon, God’s Word can move us out of a fear-filled pit and into true freedom.  Into true living. Into life unafraid.

It starts with properly placed fear in the only One Who can handle it all.

*I’ve written a short ebook on living unafraid. A manifesto, if you will. And I would love for you to read it, to find the challenge to really live. Unafraid. Next week, I’ll offer it when I launch my new personal blog (www.BriannaRWasson.com), but you can get it here right now. Just click here for the download. Then start living. Unafraid.

Bria Wasson