Sometimes taking a stand for Christ is scary. But by faith we know God is faithful to fulfill His promises.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were paralyzed with fright by its unknowns. Isolation became the norm as a measure to reduce the risk of catching the virus or infecting others. Fear and anxiety dominated social media discussions. God’s Word tells us something different.
“Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Despite some trepidation, my husband and I decided to share God’s message of hope with those around us, while complying with all COVID-19 safety precautions. I constructed a rustic cross and painted the words, “Faith over Fear” across its front. My husband secured the cross prominently to the front of our house, clearly visible from the street. The response was unexpected.
Through our front window, I could see cars slow down as they drove by and riders turned their heads toward our cross. Neighbors smiled and waved as they passed by. One lady who hardly spoke to us made a point of complimenting our cross. A man from a nearby neighborhood stopped to commend our boldness in sharing this message of hope. Our grandson saw a young boy placing rocks hand-painted with images of trees and hearts on our sidewalk.
All these things happened because we chose to boldly proclaim our faith in God despite what was happening in the world. The biggest blessing for us is that our grandson witnessed God’s response to faith in action. God can be trusted to be true to His Word. It is a beautiful reminder to let hope in Christ overcome any fears we have on earth.
BarbHowe.org 