The Greatness of God

In my book entitled “Farewell to Fear” I wrote, “The God who conquered Canna said, “Fear not.” It was at the time when relations between the US and Iran were at their worst and there was apprehension regarding what was going on there. I received a letter from a young pilot when grew up in our church. He wrote, “I am flying spy missions over Iran in an unarmed spy plane. I’ll admit it is a scarey thing. I gained my composure when I read in your book, ‘The God who conquered Canna said, Fear Not.’”

In this uncertain and discomforting time in our country we must remember our God said, “Fear not” many times. The verb tense literally means “Stop being afraid.” Now that you have gotten the message, what are you going to do about it?

In southeast Georgia there is a vast area known as the Marshes of Glenn. A former Poet Laureat of Georgia, Sidney Lanier, observed a marsh-hen and wrote of it:

As the marsh-hen secretly builds on the watery sod, 
Behold I will build me a nest on the greatness of God: 
I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh-hen flies 
In the freedom that fills all the space ‘twixt the marsh and the skies: 
By so many roots as the marsh-grass sends in the sod 
I will heartily lay me a-hold on the greatness of God….”

Engage in the mental exercise by memorizing those few lines and repeat them to yourself often. At least memorize that last line and do what it says, lay a-heartily hold on the greatness of God.

So many things we have grown to find comfort in are being eroded. The foundation of many has been shaken. Perhaps you are one such person. If so, apply a principle I recently shared with a downcast doctor. He explained he was in a funk and asked if that ever happened to me. I acknowledged it did. He asked how I got out of it. I said I reminded myself disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice, and then set about praying myself out of it. That is the only way out of a morose mood.

“Fear not!” is the most repeated command in the Bible. Fear and its close companion “worry” hound and haunt many. Stressors, according to the experts, have produced an age of unprecedented anxiety.  For that reason He reassures us repeatedly against them. In His will you can be bold in the unknown.

Therefore, in these dark days stop being on the defense, and go on the offense.  It is a grand time to let you light so shine that people can see your good works and glorify you Father who is in heaven.

The contemporary Christian chorus has this great truth.

“Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me.”