By Kerry Knight, Minister, Emerald Beach Church of Christ
During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man. The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” Years later, when Patton’s autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”
What a lesson for Christians! When we start focusing on our fears, we make God very small. Listen to what David said in Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
We find strength by giving our fears up to God. Paul spoke to his spiritual son, Timothy and offered him the greatest encouragement ever. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love; and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).
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