Deuteronomy 30:6: How to Have Courage in the Face of Fear

Let's face it: we're living today in a great time of fear. The world is raging and the kingdoms are tottering (Ps. 46:6). What is God's church supposed to do?

Answer: The same thing that it's done for the past 2,000 years: have faith in a God who is with them.

We turn our eyes this morning to a solitary verse in Deuteronomy 30 that will surely give us hope in the times we are living in today. In the verse's original context, we find the Israelites living in a time of fear. They were called to enter into the Promised Land where a people much more mighty than them currently lived. God had called them to take over the land, but the people were surely tempted to be afraid. Yet, God called them not to fear. He called them to "be strong and courageous." But how?

Similarly in our lives today, we live in a time when we are tempted to be afraid. There's some virus raging over the earth, killing thousands, and interrupting our day-to-day lives to say the least. Yet amidst it all, God has commanded us in scripture many times to "not be afraid." Just like the Israelites in the face of fear, God has called us to "be strong and courageous." But how?

In Deuteronomy 30:6, we find our answer, as the Lord does not merely command his people to be courageous in the face of fear, but also gives them a promise: "For it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Amidst God's command to fear not, he gives us a promise that he will be with us forever. Thus, we can logically conclude that the reason why we are able to have courage in the face of fear is not because we have control of our circumstances, but because we know the One who does. Not because the circumstances around us aren't bad, but because we know the One who is sovereign over them. Our courage in the face of fear is all because God is with us, and surely there is no greater promise.

Let us observe a few other verses that command us to not be afraid in the face of fear:

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. . ." Psalm 23:4a

"Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. . . .The LORD of hosts is with us." Psalm 4:2, 11

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10

I could list more verses, but do you get the point? Wherever God promises us to not fear in scripture, it is coupled with a promise that the Lord is with us. Thus we find that our hope, assurance, and courage in every situation is not in our circumstance, but in the presence of a Savior who has promised to be with us even in the deepest, darkest, and most horrible of struggles. Yes, even in the face of COVID-19.

Here these words from a great Christian author:

"Control is an illusion. No amount of control will ever be enough to ensure our safety, and no amount of control will ever remove our fears. . . .Faith is the opposite of seeking control. It is surrendering control. It embraces the truth that control is an illusion--we never had it and we never will. Rather than trying to overcome our fears by seeking more control, the solution offered by the [Gospel] is precisely the opposite--we overcome fear by surrendering control. But surrender is only possible if we have a total assurance that we are safe. We must be convinced that if we let go we will be caught. This assurance only comes when we trust that our heavenly Father desires to be with us and will not let us fall."*

So, fear not, my brothers and sisters. In the faith of fear, the true Christian can look it straight in the eye and proclaim that fear has no hold on us, since the Lord of Hosts is with us. We can be courageous not because we know the outcome of our circumstances, but because the Lord who loves us is with us, and for that, we rejoice. Amen. Let our prayer be that of a faithful yet faithless man in Mark 9:

"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Surely we believe in the Lord, yet there is certainly room for our faith to grow. Let this great trial be the tool that God uses to increase our faith as we call out to him. Amen!

*With, Skye Jethani