Mark 16:6 – 8 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
I can remember a time, when I was twelve years old, that I was literally scared speechless. I had no control over my vocal cords. I wanted to scream, to cry for help, but nothing would come out. I was truly terrified. Praise God, I came through the experience intact. I know that He protected me. But I’ll never forget that feeling.
I wonder if that’s how those women felt that day. Can you imagine going to a cemetery to care for the body of your loved one? Cemeteries are pretty creepy places, no matter how you look at it. Then, to find the stone rolled away, to see an empty tomb, and to have a big, hulking, glowing man speaking to you! I don’t blame them. I would have been terrified too.
Sometimes, we can’t control our emotions. But often, we can. We can choose to be brave. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We have the privilege of knowing today what those women didn’t know. They had nothing to be afraid of – nothing at all.
How many times do we fail to do something we know God wants us to do, simply because we are afraid? I must confess, there are things I’ve felt God leading me to do. Words to say. Books to write. But I don’t want to! There are some things that just scare me speechless. And so, I do nothing.
I don’t blame those women for being terrified that day. I would have felt the same, I’m sure of it. But God doesn’t want fear to rule our actions or our lives. And the great news is, when He commissions us to do something, He will go before us. He will take us by the hand and lead us. We have nothing to fear.
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
Dear Father, Thank You for being bigger than my fear. Help me to trust you.
Amen
A wonderful post, Renae! I love that verse from Isaiah. What a comforting picture it gives me. He takes my right hand and says to me, “Don’t be afraid; I will help you.” What more could I possibly need??
Hi Jeanette! That is one of my favorite verses, too. I remembered when I “discovered” it a few years back, I truly felt I’d found a treasure! As you said, it is such a comforting thought.